Desborough Green Space volunteers add to Queen’s Green Canopy tree count

School children from Desborough have joined forces with members of Kettering Huxloe Rotary Club to plant more than 100 trees in Desborough as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy.

With help from North Northamptonshire Council (NNC), pupils from Desborough Loatlands Primary School worked with volunteers to plant native British varieties.

NNC ward councillor Mike Tebbutt worked with pupils and volunteers to plant a variety of trees, including Rowan, Common Oak, Silver Birch, Hazel, Hawthorn and Blackthorn on Desborough’s Green Space near Ironwood Avenue.

During the planting the pupils attached wooden name tags to each tree planted meaning the children can visit their tree and continue to care for it in the future.

Kim Parry, the environment officer from the Huxloe Rotarians, said: “We are delighted to be supporting our future with the kids from Loatlands School who have joined us today with our tree planting in support of the Queens Green Canopy programme to celebrate the Queens Platinum jubilee. “

The land has been allocated for ‘community tree planting’ which means there will be further plantings in the coming years, supported by NNC. This is the second tree planting NNC have undertaken with the school, with plans for more in the future.

Cllr Harriet Pentland, the council’s executive member for climate and green environment, said: “It is great to see so many trees being planted, across north Northamptonshire as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy scheme, which will have such a positive impact for our communities and the wider environment.”

The trees planted in Desborough will be officially recorded and added to the ‘Queen’s Green Canopy’ map online, alongside the other trees being planted across north Northamptonshire throughout the planting season.

Jay, one of the pupils from Desborough Loatlands School, said: “I am really pleased to plant some trees today as there are so many being cut down and we need more for the environment.”

As well as working closely with volunteers, community groups and local schools, NNC is working closely with the Northamptonshire Lord Lieutenant’s office in the lead up to Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June 2022.

Cllr Jason Smithers, leader of NNC, added: “The planting season runs until the end of March, so there is still time to get involved and plant a tree for the jubilee. Whether it is one tree in your garden or a community planting event in your local area, every tree counts.”