A spectacular 21-metre “Tree of Trees” sculpture featuring 350 British native trees will be created outside Buckingham Palace as an exciting centrepiece of The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend celebrations in June.
Designed by Thomas Heatherwick, the sculpture reflects the joyful Jubilee tree planting which has swept the nation as part of The Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC), inspiring over a million trees to be planted during its first season, from October 2021 to March 2022.
The sculpture seeks to put the importance of trees and nature at the heart of this historic milestone to celebrate Her Majesty, who has planted over 1,500 trees all over the world throughout the course of her 70-year reign.
The 350 trees will be set in aluminium pots embossed with Her Majesty’s cypher. After the Jubilee weekend, the trees will be gifted to selected community groups and organisations to celebrate their work and inspire the next generation of tree planters across the nation. The trees will be carefully stored during the summer ahead of distribution at the start of the planting season in October. Further details on the selection process will be announced in due course.
The Queen’s Green Canopy is working to help green our cities, renew the countryside and bring communities together. Working with partners, a key element of the QGC includes a programme to support urban greening projects in areas of high socioeconomic deprivation and low canopy cover. With trees and nature central to many of their designs, Thomas Heatherwick and his team’s creative approach closely reflects this theme.
The sculpture is made from reclaimed and new steel with materials and expertise sourced from local suppliers up and down the country, from Cleveland and Hull to Cambridgeshire and Hove.
The Queen’s Green Canopy is a charitable initiative. The “Tree of Trees” sculpture has been supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies.
Thomas Heatherwick, designer of the Tree of Trees, said:
“It’s an honour for us to be making the Tree of Trees. The structure, created from 350 British native trees and recycled steel, is coming together from workshops and nurseries across the country as one part of an incredible community campaign that’s literally changing the landscape of our nation.”
Michael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg L.P and Bloomberg Philanthropies said:
“Bloomberg is glad to support this inspiring installation celebrating what’s possible when communities come together to build a brighter future. Trees bring so many immediate and long-term benefits, and our foundation has been helping communities around the world plant more of them, including London, our company’s second home. We’re looking forward to seeing this partnership with The Queen’s Green Canopy and a brilliant designer, Thomas Heatherwick, come into bloom.”
Background
Materials have been sourced wherever possible from local suppliers within the United Kingdom to minimise transportation, energy use and waste.
- The design has been optimised to maximise the use of old surplus steel, keeping the level of embodied carbon to a minimum
- The timber support, deck and joists are Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified
This announcement coincides with Earth Day – Friday 22nd April 2022.
The Queen’s Green Canopy
The Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC) is a unique tree planting initiative created to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee. All across the UK people are being invited to “Plant a tree for the Jubilee” to create a legacy in honour of The Queen’s leadership of the nation, which will benefit future generations.
With a focus on planting sustainably, everyone from individuals to Scout and Girlguiding groups, villages, cities, counties, schools and corporates will be encouraged to play their part to enhance our environment by planting trees during the official planting season between October to March. Tree planting will commence again in October 2022, through to the end of the Jubilee year.
As well as inviting the planting of new trees, The Queen’s Green Canopy will dedicate a network of 70 Ancient Woodlands across the United Kingdom and identify 70 Ancient Trees to celebrate Her Majesty’s 70 years of service.
By inviting everyone to plant considerable numbers of new trees throughout the country, the QGC seeks to highlight the significant value of trees and woodlands as nature’s simple but highly effective way to clean the air we breathe, slow the impact of climate change, create important wildlife habitats and improve our general health and wellbeing.
- Throughout Her reign, The Queen has planted more than 1,500 trees all over the world and has spoken alongside Sir David Attenborough of the importance of trees in the Earth’s future.
- The QGC is a voluntary and inclusive initiative which is open to participation by everyone in the UK.
- The QGC is a symbolic gift which involves the voluntary dedication of forests and woodland – there is no land/title transfer.
- The QGC is a not-for-profit initiative, which has not received Government funding.
Further information about the QGC is available: www.queensgreencanopy.org
The Queen’s Green Canopy Partners
Collaboration is central to the QGC. We are proud to work with Cool Earth, The Royal Horticultural Society, The Woodland Trust, Trees for Cities, The Forest Canopy Foundation, DEFRA, The Tree Council, The Conservation Volunteers & Community Forest Trust.
The Queen’s Green Canopy – Platinum Supporters
The QGC is grateful to the Royal Mail Group as our first Founding Partner. We are also working with Platinum Supporters Coutts, John Lewis & Partners, Waitrose & Partners, Rentokil Initial, Coupa, Regatta and Craghoppers, Bridgepoint, Howdens, Johnnie Walker, McDonald’s UK & Ireland and Bloomberg Philanthropies. Bags of Ethics by Supreme Creations is an Official Supporter.
The Queen’s Green Canopy – QGC Friends Network
A diverse collection of groups located across the UK, our Friends Network is supporting the QGC, from planting trees to helping inspire the nation to get involved. https://queensgreencanopy.org/about-us/qgc-friends-network/
QGC social media channels
Instagram: @queensgreencanopy
Twitter: @QGCanopy
Facebook: @queensgreencanopy
LinkedIn: @queensgreencanopy
Hashtags: #queensgreencanopy #plantatreeforthejubilee #jubileetrees
About Bloomberg Philanthropies
Bloomberg Philanthropies invests in 941 cities and 173 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. The organisation focuses on five key areas for creating lasting change: the Arts, Education, Environment, Government Innovation, and Public Health.
As an environmental leader, Bloomberg supports creative-led initiatives around the world to turbocharge climate progress and engage local communities. Last year, Bloomberg employees supported this mission by planting 11,390 trees globally. This year, Bloomberg will support Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations through a range of initiatives, including support for the Queen’s Green Canopy. https://www.bloomberg.org/
About Heatherwick Studio
Heatherwick Studio is a design team of 200 problem solvers dedicated to making the physical world around us better for everyone. Their recent work includes the Maggie’s Centre in Leeds, Little Island in New York, Coal Drops Yard in King’s Cross London, and the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa in Cape Town, as well as Airo, an electric car that cleans the air as it drives. http://www.heatherwick.com/
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