Caithness Voluntary Group to receive gift from Platinum Jubilee 'Tree of Trees'
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Caithness is to receive one of hundreds of trees that played a prominent role in celebrations marking the Platinum Jubilee of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
A total of 350 trees made up a collective “Tree of Trees” outside Buckingham Palace this summer and these will be presented to organisations across the UK – including Caithness Voluntary Group (CVG), which supports the voluntary sector in the county.
The initiative is being launched today (Monday) in London, in memory of Her Majesty, at the start of the official tree-planting season.
It is part of the Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC) planting scheme which began in 2021 as part of the commemorations of the Queen's 70-year reign. The aim is to create a network of individual trees and woodland areas in honour of her service.
The trees from the jubilee display will be gifted evenly across the country in proportion to the population, with each county receiving at least one. The Lord-Lieutenants of each county, who are the King’s representatives, have been championing the QGC and have selected the recipients of the trees and the pots that go with them.
CVG's senior development officer Allan Tait said: "We are absolutely delighted that CVG is included in the UK-wide network of organisations to be presented with a special tree for Caithness as a living legacy in honour of Her Majesty the Queen.
"This is a great honour – both to everyone in our organisation and all those involved with the fabulous community sector who work so hard in every corner of Caithness, making a difference every single day. We are really looking forward to hearing more details and sharing those with all our partners."
A symbolic group of up to 20 inspiring organisations will come together at the Royal Hospital Chelsea today to be presented with a tree in a pot embossed with Her Majesty’s cypher from the Tree of Trees, which stood as a message of hope and regeneration as part of the jubilee weekend celebrations in June.
The tree-gifting ceremony in London is the first of many that will take place throughout the UK as the 350 trees that made up the Tree of Trees are presented to a diverse range of groups.
QGC chairman Sir Nicholas Bacon said: "We are proud to unveil this nationwide network of organisations chosen to become custodians of these special trees in Her Majesty’s name.
"In recognition of the positive impact that they have on their communities, the groups chosen represent the very best of Britain. The Queen’s Green Canopy hopes the trees will serve as an inspiration for tree-planting within communities and to encourage care for the trees which already exist as part of our nation’s stunning landscape."
Designed by Thomas Heatherwick, the Tree of Trees outside Buckingham Palace was described as a "living sculpture". During the summer the trees were cared for by a tree nursery ahead of distribution at the start of the planting season in October.
It was announced last month that the QGC – which had been due to conclude in December, at the end of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee year – will continue until March.
The Queen planted more than 1500 trees around the world during her reign.
Other recipients of trees from the Tree of Trees include Assynt Mountain Rescue Team and Lyness Royal Naval Cemetery on Hoy.
