Launch of The Queen's Green Canopy

Today marks the launch of The Queen’s Green Canopy, a tree planting initiative to mark The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022 and to enhance our environment now, and for generations to come.

With a focus on planting sustainably, the initiative invites individuals, community groups, businesses and others across the UK to plant trees.

As well as planting new trees, The Queen’s Green Canopy initiative will protect a network of 70 Ancient Woodlands across the United Kingdom and identify 70 Ancient Trees to celebrate Her Majesty’s 70 years of service. 

Her Majesty The Queen joined The Prince of Wales, Patron of The Queen's Green Canopy, for the first Jubilee tree planting at Windsor Castle earlier this year, during the tree planting season. 

The tree planted by The Prince to launch the initiative is a Verdun Oak, which were first planted in the UK after WW1, cultivated from acorns collected from the battlefield at Verdun. The acorns were sent from France to be distributed as war memorials.

The QGC project will also create a pilot training programme for unemployed young people aged between 16-24 through Capel Manor College, London’s only specialist environmental college of which The Queen Mother was Patron, to plant and manage trees. The trainees will also be offered 6-month work placements.

The countdown to planting season begins today and will start in 18 weeks and three days, giving people time to plan their Queen’s Green Canopy planting projects.