A message from Surrey County Council Chair, Helyn Clack, about some recent tree planting at Woodhatch for the Queen's Green Canopy:

Following the October Council Meeting on Tuesday 12th October, I was joined by Deputy Chief Executive, Leigh Whitehouse, the Leader, Tim Oliver, Chief Fire Officer, Steve-Owen Hughes and the Council's Arboricultural and Woodland Team Manager, John Igglesden, in our beautiful garden at Woodhatch for the Queen’s Green Canopy.

This is a unique tree planting initiative created to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022 which invites people from across the United Kingdom to “Plant a Tree for the Jubilee”, although in our case, we planted five trees. Two located outside the canteen and a further three in the Memorial Garden.

The trees will not only create a legacy in honour of the Queen’s Leadership, but they will benefit future generations and will contribute to the 1 million trees that Surrey are planting in the County over the next two years.

Planting native trees is a positive thing to do and has many benefits including increasing biodiversity, improving health and wellbeing, and alleviating climate change.

In March next year on the 70th day of the 70th year of the Queens reign, we will lay a plaque in honour of Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee and can enjoy the progress that our trees have made between now and then.

Our planting does not stop here. 150 small trees were given away today to our members and onsite officers to plant in their gardens and communities. I am proud that Surrey is playing its part to enhance our environment and make our County an even greener one.