NPA pupils ”Plant a Tree for the Jubilee”

On Wednesday, 13^th October, The High Sheriff of Norfolk, Michael Gurney DL was proud help children from years one and four plant Erman’s Birch at Norwich Primary Academy as part of The Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC) initiative. 

Norwich Primary Academy were privileged to have been gifted one of only 70 celebration trees by the QGC to primary schools in UK cities to mark Her Majesty’s 70 years of service. It is part of the education programme which seeks to inspire young people to be the future custodians of the UK’s green spaces, forests and woodlands. The action of planting the QGC Celebration Trees engages the children directly with creating trees for their future.

The pupils gathered around the tree as it was planted and were thrilled to watch the ceremony.  The children asked many questions, including all about the Jubilee and were keen to find out how to look after the tree, what kind of it was and how big it would grow.

The QGC is a unique tree planting initiative created to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022 which invites people across the United Kingdom to “Plant a Tree for the Jubilee”. Her Majesty and His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, who is Patron of the QGC, have already planted a copper beech tree at the Balmoral Estate’s historic cricket pavilion.

Norwich Primary Academy's Principal Rebecca Handley-Kirk said:

 “Norwich Primary Academy are honoured to have been asked to plant and nurture a tree to mark Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. The Children are very excited to be part of the Queen’s Green Canopy initiative and I know future generations of pupils at Norwich Primary Academy will play their part in cherishing the tree. The school will not only be part of creating a living legacy for the Queen but the children will be learning the environmental importance of trees in the natural world and caring for them.” 

Lady Dannatt MBE, Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk said:

“The City Schools tree planting scheme is an important and wonderful element in The Queens Green Canopy initiative. I am delighted that the Norwich Primary Academy has been selected to be the custodian of Norwich’s tree. I am sure that as the years pass and the tree reaches maturity successive years of pupils will enjoy watching it grow and be proud that their tree is part of an historic national celebration of Her Majesty the Queens Platinum Jubilee. Their care of the tree will add to their learning and greatly enhance our environment - surely there can be fewer better ways of Norfolk honouring Her Majesty’s long, noble and dedicated reign than this?”

All schools are encouraged to get involved in planting Jubilee trees, with free tree packs available through the initiative’s partners the Woodland Trust and The Conservation Volunteers.

The tree has been added to the QGC Map, which will create a digital record of the green canopy of tree planting projects across the country. You can view this here.