The Queen’s Deputy Lieutenant Professor Sir Nigel Thrift joined the Leader of Solihull Council, Cllr Ian Courts, students and staff from Langley School, local ward councillors and council staff to plant 54 trees at Langley Hall Park for The Queen’s Green Canopy – one for each country in The Queen’s Commonwealth.
The Queen’s Green Canopy is a unique tree planting initiative created to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee this year.
Cllr Ian Courts, Leader of Solihull Council, said: “The Queen’s Green Canopy invites people to ‘Plant a Tree for the Jubilee’ to honour The Queen’s 70 years of leadership of the Nation and to enhance our environment.
“Here in Solihull we understand the importance of trees. As part of our urban landscape they add beauty and support and sustain wildlife, creating habitats for lots of different birds and animals.
“Trees also play a hugely significant role in combating climate change, absorbing as much as 22kg of carbon each, producing oxygen and purifying the air.
“We have pledged to plant 250,000 trees over the next ten years so we jumped at the chance to get involved in The Queen’s Green Canopy, creating a lasting legacy which will benefit future generations.”
Students from Langley School’s Eco Group in Olton worked with local ward councillors and the council’s Planting our Future team to plant the trees for The Queen’s Green Canopy. The scheme was sponsored by John Lewis.
Picture caption – Front row, students from Langley School. Back row – Olton ward councillor Cllr Robert Grinsell, Leader of Solihull Council Cllr Ian Courts, The Queen’s Deputy Lieutenant Professor Sir Nigel Thrift, Head Teacher Clare Thorpe, Olton ward councillor Cllr Daniel Gibbin, Eco leader Joanna Botley