People across the UK are being urged to plant trees in an initiative to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee in 2022.
The Queen's Green Canopy (QGC) will see new trees planted, as well as ancient woodlands and forests protected.
Prince Charles encouraged people to 'plant a tree for the jubilee'. 'In other words, a "tree-bilee"', he said in a video message.
Taking part in the scheme, hosted by climate charity Cool Earth, could range from individuals planting trees in their own gardens to the creation of platinum jubilee copses on council land or avenues in cities or housing developments. Schools and community groups will be able to apply for a share of three million free saplings from the Woodland Trust as part of the project.
The Queen has herself planted more than 1,500 trees around the world during her reign. Throwing his support behind the initiative, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: 'Our trees stand at the frontline of our fight against climate change and by sustaining our beautiful countryside for generations to come. The Queen's Green Canopy is a fitting tribute to her majesty's years of service to this country. I urge everyone to get involved.'
Describing the Queen's Canopy as a 'statement of hope and faith in the future', HRH The Prince of Wales said planting trees and hedgerows and protecting existing woodlands and forests were simple, cost-effective ways to protect the planet.
The initiative will also highlight 70 irreplaceable ancient woodlands across the UK and identify 70 ancient trees.
Tree planting rates to treble by end of this Parliament
Later this week the government’s will outline their own separate ambition to create more woodlands, protect our peatlands and boost biodiversity. The Environment Secretary, George Eustice, will set out his plans to treble tree planting rates over the course of this Parliament on Tuesday outlining how new measures to increase tree planting will form a central pillar in the efforts to reach net zero emissions by 2050.
Under the new target, approximately 7,000 hectares of woodlands will be planted per year by the end of this Parliament (May 2024) alongside new initiatives to improve the health of our trees, create more woodlands in cities, and deliver thousands of green jobs as we build back greener from the pandemic.
The increase in woodland creation rates will be backed up by new funding for tree nurseries to improve our domestic tree production and maintain high levels of biosecurity. This will ensure the trees we plant now are healthy and resilient to the impacts of changing climate and increasing threats from pests and diseases.
Details of how the government will deliver the new target will be set out in an England Trees Action Plan, which will outline how we will create the diverse woodlands we need, through processes such as natural regeneration, where woodlands are restocked by trees which grow from seeds which naturally fall and germinate there, as well as programmes of tree planting.
The Environment Secretary’s speech on Tuesday will take place at an event chaired by the Wildlife Trusts where speakers will also include Tony Juniper, Chair of Natural England, and Sir William Worsley, Chair of the Forestry Commission.
