Plans have been agreed by the City of London Corporation to plant hundreds of trees in London and south east England as part of The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

Lord Mayor of the City of London, Vincent Keaveny, will begin the initiative by planting a Jubilee Tree in the Square Mile on Monday March 21.

The City Corporation manages over 11,000 acres of open space in London and south east England, including Epping Forest and Hampstead Heath, and over 200 smaller sites in the Square Mile, investing over £38m a year.

Members of its Open Spaces Committee agreed the scheme which will see hundreds more trees planted across its sites from October 2022 to March 2023.

A Zelkova Serrata tree will be planted in the City’s Whittington Garden. The species supports the City Corporation’s Climate Action Strategy by being resilient to climate change as it grows a large canopy which provides shade and cool the area around it, thus helping mitigate the effects of climate change.

The project is part of The Queen’s Green Canopy, a tree planting initiative created to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022 which celebrates The Queen’s 70-year reign. 

It invites people from across the UK to “Plant a Tree for the Jubilee.

Lord Mayor of the City of London, Vincent Keaveny, said:

“Her Majesty The Queen is a symbol of unity for the country and she continues to reign with an unfaltering commitment to public service.

“As a major green spaces provider in London and south east England we are proud to support The Queen’s Green Canopy.

“The initiative will create a legacy in honour of The Queen’s leadership, benefitting future generations right across the country.”

CEO of The Queen’s Green Canopy, Dan Rex said:

''I am delighted that the City Corporation is supporting The Queen’s Green Canopy by planting more trees. Aside from the aesthetic enhancement, trees can significantly improve our physical environment through filtering poor air, providing shade and thermal comfort, supporting the management of localised flooding, and increasing biodiversity by creating habitats for wildlife. 

“Furthermore, trees bring social benefits by increasing people's connection with nature, enhancing local environments for leisure activities, and improving health and wellbeing. The importance of access to green space, particularly for physical and mental health, has been highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic.’'

The City Corporation plans to involve local school children in the tree planting campaign to educate them on the importance of protecting and conserving woodlands.

The project will form part of a wider programme of events being held in the City to celebrate The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

The City Corporation’s green spaces, most of which are charitable trusts, are run at little or no cost to the communities that they serve. 

They include important wildlife habitats, Special Areas of Conservation, Sites of Special Scientific Interest, and National Nature Reserves.

They remove around 16,000 tonnes of carbon from the atmosphere a year, equivalent to 44% of the City Corporation’s annual carbon footprint.

They are protected from being built on by special legislation.

ENDS

Kristina Drake| Media Officer, Public Services

City of London Corporation

http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/newsroom

Kristina.Drake@cityoflondon.gov.uk

M: 07710860884

Notes to Editors:

The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally-successful UK. www.cityoflondon.gov.uk 

The Queen’s Green Canopy - www.queensgreencanopy.org