BLOG: Plant a tree for jubilee

Plant a tree for jubilee

Oxford’s civic leaders planted Maple trees in Bernwood Road, Barton, on 11 March 2022, to mark the 70th day of the year in which the Queen marks 70 years of her reign.

The tree planting forms part of The Queen’s Green Canopy, a nationwide initiative encouraging everyone to plant a tree, hedge or other planting with a focus on sustainability, to create a legacy in honour of The Queen’s leadership.

Sustainable tree planting

Oxford City Council is encouraging people to plant a tree in their garden as part of the Queen’s canopy initiative.

When choosing to plant a tree or hedgerow, follow the principle of “right tree, right place” and research what type of tree works best for your garden. More information is available on the Council website.

• Trees and hedgerows have a much better chance of surviving and thriving if they are planted between October and April, ideally between November and March.
• If you have a small garden, choose a small tree. The Council recommend planting small fruit trees.
• Don’t plant too close to buildings or walls as the tree won’t thrive and you could cause damage to the building.
• Consider your neighbours: will your tree shade their property or eventually grow over your boundary?

Sponsor a street tree

Oxford City Council is asking local businesses to invest in Oxford’s environment by sponsoring street trees and helping to provide a lasting legacy to mark the Platinum Jubilee.

In response to the climate emergency, the City Council has planted over 10,000 new trees in its green spaces in recent years, and further planned projects include the creation of a community orchard on the Barn Green in Greater Leys and a new avenue of street trees along the Marston Road. It also embarking on a programme to plant more hedges.

Hedgerows provide equal benefits to wildlife and the environment as trees, and can be planted along boundaries of sites where there is no additional capacity for further trees.

The Council now needs help to increase the number of street trees, as they are expensive to provide and maintain. Street trees are particularly important because they reduce pollution in urban areas where it has the greatest impacts on health, and they can provide locals with beautiful environments that create a sense of place and wellbeing.

Local sponsors are needed to fund the initial phase to establish a pavement tree pit, purchase and plant a semi-grown tree and water it for the first three years. The City Council plans to provide a new avenue of street trees in at least one location to mark the Jubilee, but every new tree in the city will make a difference.