» Be One in a Million and plant a tree for the Jubilee
The UKs leading woodland conservation charity has set itself the ambitious task of planting a million trees in a month in February 2012 to celebrate The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and celebrate her accession to the throne, part of a year of tree planting that will see 6 million trees planted across the UK in 2012 as part of the Trust’s Jubilee Woods project.
February 6th 2012 marks the 60th anniversary of The Queen’s accession to the throne. Happily, the winter months are also the best time of year to plant trees, when they are dormant and the ground is full of moisture to give them a good start before the summer. So, in February 2012, the Woodland Trust is inviting people, together with family, friends, and local communities to join us in planting one million trees for the Jubilee.
In February alone the Trust expects to see 7,500 free tree packs for schools, and over 2000 community tree packs planted, and more than 500 acres of woodland created across large 60 acre Diamond Woods and smaller Jubilee Woods, along with 100,000 individual garden trees and 50,000 trees planted by partner organisations across Britain.
Across the UK landowners, communities, schools and organisations have pledged to plant trees in February to help the Trust, these include Stoke City Council, The Burghley Estate, and tree planting individuals such as Dame Judi Dench the multi award winning film stage and TV actress and enthusiastic supporter of the Jubilee Woods project who is planting oaks in her garden.
Dame Judi spoke about planting trees, she said: “Whenever a friend or relative dies, I make a point of planting a tree in my garden. As soon as I heard about the Jubilee Woods project, I felt I wanted to be a part of it. I support the Woodland Trust because I think too many forests are being destroyed and we should do all we can to conserve what we have and to plant more. The more trees I see, the happier I am.”
Georgina McLeod, Head of Jubilee Woods said: “The great news is that everyone can get involved in February and be one in a million. From helping to create 60 new Diamond Woods, planting new woodland with communities, donating funds to help plant trees, to planting trees in school grounds or a single tree in your garden or pot, it’s easy to plant trees for the Jubilee and help us reach a million trees in a month! People can visit the Jubilee Woods website to find out more. But this is just the start, the tree planting celebrations will take place across the whole year with opportunities for everyone to get involved in planting 6 million trees.”
And it wouldn’t be the first time that the UK has celebrated a Royal occasion by nationwide tree planting. The Royal Record of Tree Planting for King George VI’s Coronation records in fascinating detail the tree planting undertaken by thousands of schools, parishes, organisations and homeowners in 1936/7, and has been made available online for the first time by the Trust. People can search the book online and unearth the hidden treasures on their doorsteps.
Everyone involved in planting for the Diamond Jubilee will be recorded in the new royal record that will be published on line and in hard copy form which will be presented to The Queen and the British library at the end of the project.
Free Jubilee tree packs are also available for communities and schools to plant in local areas and school grounds. For individuals there is a special range of individual Jubilee trees for gardens or pots. For more information or to find out how you can get involved and plant your tree for the Jubilee in February 2012 visit the www.Jubileewoods.org.uk website.
» Notes to editors:
For more information please contact Steve Marsh, Woodland Trust press office on 01476 581 121, 07771 942 223 or email stevemarsh@woodlandtrust.org.uk
Jubilee Woods project www.jubileewoods.org.uk
The Trust is offering people the gem of a chance to be at the heart of the Queen's 2012 Diamond Jubilee celebrations, by planting trees for The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
The project aims to plant six million trees to celebrate The Queen’s reign and involve millions of people. The Woodland Trust is honoured to have support from the Queen as we pay tribute to her Majesty's 60-year reign by planting millions of native trees in the UK. We are delighted to have HRH The Princess Royal as patron of the project.
The project will see 60 Diamond Woods – Woods of over 60 acres being created across the UK
100s of Jubilee Woods - Woods of over an acre
1000s of FREE community tree packs containing 105 or 420 native tree species, these packs come in four themes, each containing a ‘royal oak’ sapling grown from acorns collected on Royal estates. Packs can be now ordered for planting in autumn 2012 (closing date September).
1000s of FREE school packs containing 60 hedge or copse tree species, each containing a ‘royal oak’ sapling grown from acorns collected on Royal estates. Schools packs can be ordered for planting in autumn 2012.
Corporate Supporters
The Jubilee Woods project is kindly supported by our Diamond partner, IKEA, and Silver Partners Calor, Hoval, ibuyeco, Pearson and The Wren Press.
Woodland Trust
The Woodland Trust is the UK’s leading charity championing native woods and trees. It has 300,000 members and supporters. The Trust has three key aims: i) to enable the creation of more native woods and places rich in trees ii) to protect native woods, trees and their wildlife for the future iii) to inspire everyone to enjoy and value woods and trees. Established in 1972, the Woodland Trust now has over 1,000 sites in its care covering approximately 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres). Access to its sites is free.
