Ipswich Borough Council

01/30/2023 | News release | Distributed by Public on 01/30/2023 03:27

Trees to be planted in Ipswich in honour of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

More than 500 trees are to be planted in Ipswich as part of a national forest in 2023 in honour of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

The 590 trees donated to Ipswich will become part of the living legacy to honour Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth through The Queen's Green Canopy (QGC), which has already planted over a million trees across the country.

The first commemorative tree planted in Holywells Park in December 2022 was part of the QGC "Tree of Trees" installation at Buckingham Palace during the Platinum Jubilee weekend celebrations. It was planted by Ipswich Borough councillors and Ipswich Tree Wardens with members of the public.

A traditional woodland of 520 small native trees is next to be planted in Gippeswyk Park to celebrate Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth's life. The Cherry, Goat Willow, Oak, and Rowan trees have a high wildlife and carbon storage value and will be planted during Ipswich Loves Trees Week (February half term 2023). These trees have been made possible through the support of Trees for Cities' valued partner, Associated British Ports (ABP), the UK's leading ports operator.

An avenue of 70 large trees native to the UK will also be planted in Murray Road Recreation Ground to commemorate Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth's 70 years of service to her country. These trees are Wild Cherry, Lime, Horse Chestnut, disease resistant Elm, Oak, Walnut, Copper Beech, and Rowan.

The tree planting has been funded by DEFRA in partnership with Trees for Cities and The Queen's Green Canopy, which is planting trees in communities across the country in honour of the late Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.

As a Tree City of the World, Ipswich has been identified as a place demonstrating positive leadership in its management of urban trees.

Councillor Philip Smart, Ipswich Borough Council Portfolio Holder for Environment and Climate Change, says: "We feel honoured that Ipswich has been chosen to play a part in The Queen's Green Canopy, creating a living legacy for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.

These new trees strengthen our status as a tree city of the world, bringing a number of social and environmental benefits to the town and also contributing to our net zero ambitions by 2030."

Andrew Harston, ABP Regional Director, Wales and Short Sea Ports, commented: "We are delighted to be supporting The Queen's Green Canopy through our partners Trees for Cities, which will see thousands of new trees planted in Ipswich and other UK locations.

"We operate 21 ports across England, Scotland and Wales, including three in East Anglia; at Ipswich, Lowestoft and King's Lynn, and have committed to sponsoring the planting of 21,000 trees across the UK by the end of 2023, which will improve air quality and benefit local communities around our ports."

You can find out more about The Queen's Green Canopy at: queensgreencanopy.org

Find out more about volunteering in our parks and the Ipswich Tree Warden network at: www.ipswich.gov.uk/content/volunteering-our-parks-and-countryside

Trees for Cities is the only UK charity working at a national and international scale to improve lives by planting trees in cities. We get stuck in with local communities to cultivate lasting change in their neighbourhoods - whether it's revitalising forgotten spaces, creating healthier environments or getting people excited about growing, foraging and eating healthy food.

Tree Cities of the World is a partnership of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the Arbor Day Foundation that began in 2019. The programme will connect cities around the world so they can share approaches to managing urban trees and forests - all to make our cities greener and more robust. Environmental charity Trees for Cities is leading the initiative throughout the UK and has been supporting councils to achieve the
award.

Picture credit: Ipswich Borough Council