West Midlands' businesses support Queen's Green Canopy
Businesses large and small have supported the planting of more than 150,000 trees in just 18-months in the West Midlands as part of the Queen 's Green Canopy (QGC) - a nationwide initiative created to mark the Platinum Jubilee in 2022.
Originally, planting was due to conclude in December at the end of the Jubilee year but was extended to March 2023 to include the full tree planting season as a lasting tribute to the late Queen 's extraordinary service to her country and her people.
Coordinated by West Midlands Lieutenancy, the major undertaking saw a host of community events with more than 40 attended by representatives of the Lord-Lieutenant. As a result of the campaign, one tree has been planted for every 18 residents of the West Midlands.
As part of their Birmingham Commonwealth Games support, Severn Trent plc organised the planting of 72 Tiny Forests, one for each of the competing nations, across the wider West Midlands region. Forty-three were planted in the West Midlands Lieutenancy area with nearly 26,000 young trees of between 12 and 16 different species adding to the biodiversity of each Tiny Forest.
Severn Trent also sponsored the creation of a new Commonwealth Legacy Forest of 2022 acres across the Severn Trent area which resulted in planting 87 acres across the wider region in 2022 with a further 363 acres being planted this season.
Other businesses known to have been involved in planting events included the Adecco Group, Deutsche Bank, John Lewis, Lloyds Bank, Midland Heart and Waitrose.
Meanwhile, The Woodland Trust provided young trees to Wolverhampton and Birmingham whilst the National Trust reinstated and planted new hedgerows in their Solihull properties.
Amongst the last to be planted were two oak trees as the culmination of the tree-lined Jubilee Avenue at Perry Park, Birmingham adjacent to Alexander Stadium - one of the main venues for the Commonwealth Games. The Lord-Lieutenant for the West Midlands, Sir John Crabtree OBE, planted two oaks as part of the 70-tree avenue - symbolising each year of Her Majesty 's reign.
“It has been a joyous celebration tinged with the sadness of Her Majesty 's death during her Jubilee Year, ” said Sir John Crabtree.
“I am grateful to those businesses and charities who put so much effort into making the Queen 's Green Canopy such a success and I also want to thank the thousands of volunteers of all ages who have shown such remarkable support and who turned out in their droves in both good and bad weather to mark Her Majesty 's great achievements and commitment to service. I know that the Royal Family has been touched by the warmth shown by all those who have participated in the planting of the Queen 's Green Canopy and whose efforts will be appreciated by generations to come.
“The Queen 's Green Canopy has not only been a celebration of the late Queen 's service to the nation but has further raised the important role of trees in the urban environment and has created an ambition that will continue in the years to come, ” said Sir John.
Pictured: Sir John Crabtree, Lord-Lieutenant of the West Midlands, at a recent tree planting