Trees spring up to mark Queen’s Jubilee
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GROUPS across the district have been planting trees to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
There is a long history in Britain of the planting of trees to mark significant Royal events.
Commemorative oak trees were planted for Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897 as well as for the coronation of King George VI in 1937.
Pictured here are tree plantings at Wilbarston (above) and below, in order: Houghton-on-the-Hill, Foxton and Harborough.
Wilbarston launched its Jubilee celebrations with the planting of a mulberry tree following its Palm Sunday service.
The planting took place at Wilbarston churchyard on Sunday, April 1, watched by those who had been at the service.
The hardy mulberry tree can live for a long time, with one at Christ Church College, Cambridge, having been there for 300 years.
A tree was also planted in Houghton-on-the-Hill, uniting Diamond Jubilee celebrations across the centuries.
Back in 1897, parishioners of the village supported a subscription for two commemorative trees – a horse chestnut and a silver birch to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee.
The silver birch – still alive 115 years later – was planted on a small green next to the Old Black Horse Inn. Brewery Everards have donated a new tree to stand alongside the remaining tree.
And on Sunday, April 15, villagers, regulars and the licensees from the Old Black Horse Inn, Nick Mitchell and Julie Hardman, gathered to plant the tree in the pub garden.
Julie said: “We are very honoured to have the pub as the location for the new commemorative tree.”
Foxton Gardens Society decided to celebrate the Jubilee with the planting of a Fagus Sylvatica Dawych Gold tree – known for its ornamental appearance – in the village cemetery.
The occasion was witnessed by several members of the society, with Foxton’s tree warden Adam Gubbins performing the planting.
Society chairman Paddy Bailey said she was delighted to be able to recognise this once-in-a-lifetime occasion.
An oak tree sapling was planted at Harborough Police Station.
Harborough Improvement Team’s Environmental Group arranged the planting, supported by Harborough police.
Insp Paul McKinder, of Harborough police, said: “This is a very special tribute to the Queen and the fact that this police station has been chosen is an honour for me, my officers and the community.”
The sapling was procured from the Woodland Trust, and was grown from an acorn collected from a Royal estate. It will be marked with a plaque and dedicated during the Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend on June 4 and 5.
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Weather for Market Harborough
Sunday 26 May 2013
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