The tea parties and other celebrations may be over but the Arboricultural Team at Harrogate Borough Council is turning its attention to this year’s winter tree planting and how it can be used to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee.
The end of the year is best for new tree planting which is why the council is now inviting donations to plant a number of English oak trees around the district in Boroughbridge, Harrogate, Knaresborough, Pateley Bridge and Ripon.
As well as celebratory plaques, there will be a special book where all donations will be recorded.
Because of our country’s long history with the oak tree, oaks are often used in ceremonial or commemorative plantings.
Councillor Pat Jones, Cabinet Member for Cultural Services, says that this tree planting will be a further way of making sure that this milestone event in the Queen’s reign is recorded for posterity.
Councillor Pat Jones added:
Many thousands of trees have been planted to record other celebrations, including the wonderful cherry tree parade in Harrogate which marked the Queen’s coronation in 1953.
We have spoken to the Parish and Town Councils in the proposed planting areas and they are very supportive of this approach. I know people have put a lot of time and effort into their own celebrations for the Diamond Jubilee so we are looking for contributions however great or small. We would like to create avenues of trees but of course this depends on how much we raise.
The council would like to plant the trees before the end of December this year, weather permitting, and is inviting financial contributions until 31 October.
Please make your donation cheque payable to Harrogate Borough Council, let us know your preferred location (Boroughbridge, Harrogate, Knaresborough, Pateley Bridge or Ripon) and send to:
Arboricultural Manager, Harrogate Borough Council, Department of Community Services, Springfield House, Kings Road, Harrogate HG1 5NX. Please enclose a return address so that a receipt for the donated monies can be issued.
