Pupils from five primary schools have joined with wildlife experts and conservationists to create a new woodland in East Yorkshire in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II.
The Jubilee Woodland, devised and named to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s 70-year reign, will feature over 1,200 trees at a two-acre site in North Ferriby.
The new woodland is located on land south of Melton West business park and features a trail through the trees, creating a new outdoor space for the community and visitors to the area to enjoy.
The woodland forms part of The Queen’s Green Canopy initiative, launched to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee year.
The Jubilee Woodland initiative is being led and delivered by regeneration leader Wykeland Group, owner and developer of Melton West. It is being delivered in partnership with Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, Humber Forest and community volunteering charity The Conservation Volunteers.
Dominic Gibbons, Managing Director at Wykeland Group, said: “We’re delighted to have worked with three respected organisations and five Hull and East Yorkshire primary schools to deliver a project which will create a lasting community legacy.
“This new woodland will be enjoyed by generations to come. It will enhance biodiversity and provide a beautiful new outdoor space for the community and visitors to explore and enjoy.”
Ahead of the woodland planting, Wykeland engaged The Conservation Volunteers to construct a new path linking, at two places, into the existing Long Plantation public footpath, which forms part of the Yorkshire Wolds Way. The new, 225m-long path meanders through the Jubilee Woodland and has a compacted gravel surface so that it is free draining and provides safe level footing.
Five primary schools have been involved in the planting of the woodland, with children from each school planting their trees in dedicated areas.
The schools involved in the project are:
- All Saints Church of England School in Hessle.
- Chiltern Primary School in Hull.
- St George’s Primary School in Hull.
- Swanland Primary School.
- Welton Primary School.
Each zone will be marked with a school plaque, with two commemorative plaques at either end of the woodland celebrating Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee year.
Laura Gibson is the Assistant Headteacher at Chiltern Primary School, whose pupils helped plant 170 trees at the woodland.
She said: “Our pupils have been learning in class about the impact of deforestation and how important trees are for our planet.
“It’s great that they’ve had the opportunity to be involved in the Jubilee Woodland project, supporting biodiversity and creating a new green space for the community to enjoy.
“We teach our pupils that, if each of us does our own little bit, it adds up to create a positive and lasting effect. We’re looking forward to seeing the Jubilee Woodland grow and develop and the pupils to see what they’ve contributed to.”
The Queen’s Green Canopy was created to mark the Platinum Jubilee and was due to conclude in December 2022. However, to celebrate the extraordinary legacy of Queen Elizabeth II, the nationwide scheme has been extended until March 2023 to give more people the opportunity to plant trees in memory of Her Majesty.
Jim Dick OBE, Lord Lieutenant of the East Riding of Yorkshire, attended the tree planting at the Jubilee Woodland.
He said: “The Queen’s Green Canopy is creating a living legacy in Her Majesty’s name, with over one million trees planted across the UK to date.
“I’m delighted to see such a brilliant initiative happening here in the East Riding and that young people are playing such a major part in it.
“This new woodland is a living, breathing space for people right across our region to enjoy. I hope it provides a place of adventure, happiness and relaxation for generations to come.”
To commemorate the life of Queen Elizabeth II, Mr Dick OBE and Vice Lord Lieutenant of the East Riding of Yorkshire Christopher Oughtred planted a dedicated tree in the woodland in memory of Her Majesty.
The Jubilee Woodland can be accessed from the existing Long Plantation footpath, via the new pathway, with commemorative The Queen’s Green Canopy signs at the entrance to the woodland.
For more information on The Queen’s Green Canopy initiative, visit www.queensgreencanopy.org