Twelve English oaks to celebrate the Queen’s platinum jubilee

An English oak tree will be planted in each of Bury’s 12 Green Flag parks as part of the Queen’s platinum jubilee celebrations.

They will be part of the Queen’s Green Canopy, a unique programme that invites people from across the UK to ‘Plant a Tree for the Jubilee’.

The first of these 12 trees were planted last Friday (11th March) at St Mary’s Flower Park in Prestwich.

The ceremony was attended by children from Park View Primary School and Kids Planet Nursery, along with local councillors including council leader Cllr Eamonn O’Brien and Cllr Alan Quinn, cabinet member for the environment.

They were joined by Karan Lee, deputy lieutenant of Greater Manchester; and the Deputy Mayor of Bury, Cllr Shaheena Haroon. The ceremony was supported by Greater Manchester’s tree-planting movement, City of Trees.

Cllr Quinn said: “We’re rightly proud that all 12 of our main parks across Bury enjoy Green Flag status. Planting an English oak tree in each one of them is a fantastic way to celebrate the Queen’s platinum jubilee and keep our borough green.”

The other 11 oak trees are being planted this week at the following parks: Clarence Park, Hoyles Park, Openshaw Park, Manchester Road Park, Whitehead Park, Burrs Country Park (all Bury); Whitefield Park; Bolton Road Park and Close Park (both Radcliffe); Nuttall Park (Ramsbottom); and Towns Meadow Park (Tottington).

Beth Kelsall, the delivery coordinator at City of Trees, added: “It is a fitting way mark the Queen’s long service by planting trees that will provide us with a whole host of benefits for many years to come.

"We hope that in another 70 years’ time the new oak tree in St Mary’s Flower Park, and those planted across Bury, will not only be beautiful living reminders of Her Majesty’s reign but will continue to be enjoyed by the local community and wildlife.”