Jubilee Green Canopy

The Jubilee Green Canopy (JGC) is a unique tree planting initiative created to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022 which invites people from across the United Kingdom to “Plant a Tree for the Jubilee”.

Everyone from individuals to Scout and Girlguiding groups, villages, cities, counties, schools and corporates will be encouraged to play their part to enhance our environment by planting trees during the official planting season between October to March. Tree planting will commence again in October 2022, through to the end of the Jubilee year.

With a focus on planting sustainably, the QGC will encourage planting of trees to create a legacy in honour of The Queen’s leadership of the Nation, which will benefit future generations.

As well as inviting the planting of new trees, The Jubilee Green Canopy will dedicate a network of 70 Ancient Woodlands across the United Kingdom and identify 70 Ancient Trees to celebrate Her Majesty’s 70 years of service.

Over a hundred people including representatives from key local organisations gathered on Paradise Down on Saturday 19 November, to take part in a poignant and lively event to mark the planting of the first seventy trees of a new scheme to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II’ seventy years on the throne. The new scheme seeks to inspire engagement with the natural environment amongst Eastbourne residents for generations to come.

Plans for ‘Paradise Grove’, which will include fruit and nut trees and will provide an entrance to the Downs, were recently unveiled by the Eastbourne Canopy team, ahead of the event. Drawings of the scheme can be viewed at their website www.eastbournejgc.org

In addition to the planting of the first tree, a crab apple surrounded by mistletoe, the event included live drumming, a ‘Prayer for Trees’, led by Father Giles Carpenter of St John’s Parish, and the ancient British tradition of ‘beating the bounds’.

Attendees included Lord Ralph Lucas, local resident and a member of the House of Lords Committee for Environment and Climate Change; Adam Rose Co-Founder of Treebourne, the local tree-planting volunteer group; Caroline Lucas MP; Andrew Blackman, Lord Lieutenant, East Sussex; Cllr David Tutt, Leader of Eastbourne Borough Council; and Darrell Gale, Director of Public Health for East Sussex County Council.

The event was also attended by members of the Seeds for Kids initiative; 3VA, the volunteer coordinating organisation; as well as many local residents of all ages.

Andrew Blackman, Lord Lieutenant, East Sussex said:

“I am delighted to support the planting of a grove of 70 trees and shrubs at Paradise Grove as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy. The Queen’s Green Canopy was created as a nationwide initiative to mark the Platinum Jubilee and is now a wonderful way to honour and remember the seventy years of dedicated service that Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II gave to the nation. This significant new planting in Eastbourne will be a beautiful addition to the town.”

Lord Ralph Lucas, said:

“Paradise Grove will form part of an enduring legacy our late Queen instigated through her Green Canopy initiative, which inspired people across the country to come together around the wonderful common cause of tree-planting, regardless of their views of the monarchy. As a member of the House of Lords Committee on Environment and Climate Change, I have an ever-deepening understanding of the importance of engaging people of all ages in these issues. The committee recently published a report, ‘In our hands: behaviour change for climate and environmental goals’ which is available online and which I would encourage as many people as possible to read.

“I hope all residents take the opportunity to visit Paradise Grove, a wonderful scheme that truly belongs to the whole town.”

Adam Rose, Co-Founder of Treebourne, said:

“It is wonderful to see this previously unremarkable area, with its beautiful eastward sky view being transformed into a stunning gateway into Eastbourne from the Downs. The Eastbourne Green Canopy project builds upon the work of our amazing volunteers and I hope inspires even more people to get involved in providing the much-needed care for local trees that will be needed to ensure they survived and thrive over the coming years.”

Treebourne will be offering a wide range of opportunities for people of all ages to get involved in the planting and care of trees over the coming months. Those wishing to get involved are encouraged to visit Treebourne.org where you can join their email mailing list and follow the group on social media.”

The project partners are also planning seasonal events, activities with local schools and there will strong links with the Eastbourne Walking Festival which will take place next year and is organised by Eastbourne Borough Council.