East Suffolk Council

Posted by on 16 February 2022 | Comments

Two hundred oak trees are this week being distributed to communities across East Suffolk to plant in commemoration of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee.

The ‘Treebilee’ scheme was launched by HRH The Prince of Wales to encourage the planting of trees during a year of celebrations to mark The Queen’s 70-year reign.

As part of its involvement in the project, officially known as the Queen's Green Canopy, East Suffolk Council purchased 200 English oak trees to be donated to every town and parish council in the district – as a way of marking the occasion while helping to tackle climate change and promoting environmentally sustainable communities.

Once mature, an oak tree can host up to 5,000 different species of invertebrate, supporting a healthy food chain benefitting many birds and mammals.

Trees also naturally absorb CO2, a key greenhouse gas, through the process of photosynthesis, helping to create a significant natural carbon sink.

The 200 trees were pot grown at James Coles & Sons (Nurseries) Ltd and can be planted in the spring months, ready for the June celebrations of the Platinum Jubilee, and each comes with a commemorative plaque.

Over 150 are being distributed to town and parish councils this week, from East Suffolk Norse depots in Ufford and Lowestoft, with any surplus trees to be planted in public parks.

As part of the celebrations, East Suffolk Council is working with Felixstowe Town Council to plant seven of the oak trees during a short ceremony in Langer Park on the afternoon of March 11, as part of a wider project to revitalise the park for the benefit of the community.

Cllr James Mallinder, East Suffolk Council cabinet member for the Environment, said:

“The Treebilee scheme provides a great opportunity to for towns and parishes to contribute to our vision for environmentally sustainable communities, while creating a living and lasting memorial of The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

“That environmental vision must influence everything we do as a council, and this project exemplifies our effort to not only make commitments but take positive action by reaching out and involving our communities. Only by working together can we solve the environmental problems.

“This is a key initiative in contributing to building environmentally sustainable communities for this, and future generations.

“Trees are not only our tangible connection to our past, but a footprint into the future.”