Platinum Jubilee Tree of Trees Gifting Ceremony

Queen Elizabeth II portrait with the Queen's Green Canopy Logo

The Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC) is a UK-wide tree planting initiative created to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee. The QGC initiative has been extended to the end of the planting season in March 2023, to give people an opportunity to plant trees to honour Her Majesty.

Designed by Thomas Heatherwick, the QGC “Tree of Trees” sculpture sought to put the importance of trees at the heart of this historic milestone to celebrate Her Majesty, who planted over 1,500 trees all over the world throughout her 70-year reign.

Children preparing a tree to go onto the Tree of Trees sculpture
Children preparing a tree to go onto the Tree of Trees Sculpture

During the summer, the trees were cared for by Barcham’s Nursery ahead of distribution at the start of the planting season this month.

The trees have been gifted evenly across the UK in proportion to the population, with each county receiving at least one tree. Greater Manchester received 12 trees. Deputy Lieutenants from each Borough suggested worthy recipients from across the County and The Lord-Lieutenant selected 12 groups to receive the special trees. Joined by the Vice Lord-Lieutenant, High Sheriff, the Deputy Lieutenants and the Mayor’s of each Borough, the Lord-Lieutenant gifted them to the groups at a ceremony at the University of Bolton Stadium, the home of Bolton Wanderers FC.

The Lord-Lieutenant opens the ceremony for the gifting of the Tree of Trees
The Lord-Lieutenant opens the Tree of Trees Gifting Ceremony

The Lord-Lieutenant is very much looking forward to attending the tree planting ceremonies at each of the 12 venues.

The fabulous groups were as follows:

Bolton

Fortalice
Fortalice has been providing frontline services since 1977 for those affected by domestic abuse and violence. A well-respected charity, they are proud recipients of QAVS. They have grown from a 2 room Refuge to the current purpose built 22-unit building housing 22 women and their children. They also have an Outreach Support Centre providing advice, counselling, support and training.

Bury

Age UK Bury
This charity provides a lifeline within the communities of Bury. It provides support to those that are lonely, those suffering with age related illness or just unable to apply for grants or services for any reason. During this last year, they supported hundreds of individuals each week, in person or on the phone, helping them sort out problems, or providing much needed activities. Their Information and Advice Service, in the last 12 months alone, has responded to 1,800 calls for help. They have also supported older people to claim over £1.6 million pounds in benefits

The Heathlands Village
The Manchester Jewish Federation, known as Heathlands, is a leading Jewish social care charity. Situated in Bury, Greater Manchester, it serves the local community in many ways. Specialist services include residential and nursing care, supported independent living, hospital discharge, end of life care, a trailblazing dementia unit, adult and family social work. They also offer community care, outreach and support for all ages.

Manchester

Friends of Sackville Gardens
Sackville Gardens is a small park in the heart of Manchester’s Gay Village The Friends Group work with the Council and local communities to keep the Gardens as a green space that all can use and value. The Gardens are laid out with walks, lawns and flower beds for public use. The gardens feature memorials and space to reflect. Memorials include The Beacon of Hope, the UK’s only permanent memorial for people who lost their lives to HIV or AIDS. 

Oldham

MAHDLO Youth Zone
Mahdlo provide opportunities for over 3000 young people in a very deprived area, 7 days a week. Supporting the environment is one of the key elements they engage the youngsters in. They have outside garden areas where they grow their own veg. Street parties were held to recognise the Queens Platinum Jubilee and to have a tree planted in the area would be a great boost for this deprived area of Oldham.

Rochdale

Rochdale in Bloom
Rochdale in Bloom is a community based, volunteer led organisation dedicated to brightening up Rochdale for residents and visitors alike.
Since 2010 they have devoted their efforts to building community links, tackling gaps in social infrastructure and creating a green environment for Rochdale residents to take pride and get involved in.

Salford

Buile Hill Mansion Association
Buile Hill Mansion Association is a charity which has put the heart back into Buile Hill Park. The park had no major council funding, and the park and its Mansion had fallen into disrepair. It is located in one of Salford’s most challenging areas. The BHMA have worked hard to restore the community use of the Park which had been abandoned to drug users and vandals. They have built a sculpture trail; organised community events and they have planted 130 trees for the QGC. When they advertised for people to help plant the trees, 150 volunteers from the community turned up.

Stockport

The CMA Welfare Trust
CMA was established in 2004 and were worthy recipients of the Queens Award for Voluntary Service in 2019. Their focus is to serve the Muslim and non-Muslim community in the context of cohesion, interfaith and mutual collaboration to meet the wider needs of a changing population in terms of health, education, mental well-being and social care. The internal and external impact of being awarded a tree will be exceptional and warmly received.

Tameside

Hattersley Community Big Garden Project
In three years, this dedicated group of volunteers have taken what was a rundown and neglected site and transformed it into a little oasis at the heart of their local community. Hattersley is one of the 20% most deprived and unhealthiest districts in England and where health is lower than the English average. The aim of this group of volunteers is therefore, to better the lives of their community through gardening and fresh air, whilst creating a self-sustainable area for all to enjoy.

Trafford

Friends of Worthington Park
The Friends of Worthington Park are a voluntary group established to work with Trafford Council and other partners to safeguard and improve the facilities of this local park. Once again, this year they have been awarded the Green Flag status. This 16-acre park is very much used and loved by members of the public. Three sets of main gates were installed to mark the Queen’s Coronation in 1953.

G-Force
The Broomwood Estate in Greater Manchester ranks in the top tier of multiple deprivation. For 23 years local people have worked together to alleviate hardship, transforming the lives of individuals and families in their community. Led by local couple Paul and Tina Huxley, they are ‘GForce’, a community charity with hundreds of local volunteers. They find education and employment for the socially exclude

Wigan

The Bridgers receive their Tree

The Bridgers
This exceptional group of volunteers undertake environmental, pastoral, social and educational initiatives within Howe Bridge, an area of multiple deprivation.
This inclusive group unites all people and groups within the village including residents (all generations), church, school, sports clubs, environmental group, and social clubs for the common good of their community. Formed in 1998 the group took over a derelict piece of land, encouraged volunteers from all walks of life, and turned it into a beautiful and much-loved community garden named Colliers Corner in honour of the village’s proud mining heritage.