Residents are planting hundreds of trees at the Nansledan housing development in Newquay to honour the Queen.
The Duchy of Cornwall offered every household a free tree to plant earlier in the year as part of the nationwide Queen’s Green Canopy scheme to create as living legacy as part of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
The initiative was due to conclude in December, the end of the Jubilee year, but has been extended to give people the opportunity to plant trees in memory of the Queen following her death in September.
More than 300 households signed up during the summer and the Duchy took delivery of a consignment of trees in early November.
Members of the Duchy’s Nansledan team, led by project administrator Tracey Nicholas with support from Jonathan Rogers and Rohan Thomas, have been distributing the trees in recent weeks.
Now the scheme is being extended to next March in line with the wishes of King Charles, so the Duchy is inviting anyone in Nansledan who would still like to plant a tree in their garden or have one planted elsewhere in Nansledan (for people with no garden), to get in touch.
Ben Murphy, estate director at the Duchy of Cornwall, said: “Over a million trees have already been planted across the UK in Her Majesty’s name as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy, creating a living legacy that will serve as an enduring tribute to Her Majesty’s selfless service to her country and people.
“I am proud that residents across Nansledan have taken this project so much to their hearts.”
Geraint Richards, who sits on the Queen’s Green Canopy national project board, said: “Trees play such a vital role in the urban environment, not just for enhancing biodiversity and mitigating climate change, but also for our health and wellbeing. With the project now extended into next year we hope many more residents will choose to plant a tree.”
Among the hundreds of residents to have received their tree are partners George Barber and Emmie-Jo Barnes.
George said: “We think the green canopy is a positive move and a great scheme which is good for the environment, encourages wildlife into the area, and keeps improving the green space.
“It will improve Nansledan and will help reduce the carbon footprint with the more trees that are planted.
“We chose an apple tree as we can also get some tasty fruit which makes it more special.
“Anyone who hasn’t yet got a tree shouldn’t hesitate.”
For people without a garden in Nansledan, the Duchy will plant a tree on their behalf in a public area and provide them a letter informing them where their tree has been planted.
The next round of planting will take place in the New Year, before the end of the season in March, so trees will not be available before then.
Earlier this year the Royal British Legion Woodland next to Nansledan’s primary school was dedicated to the Queen’s Green Canopy by the King, then the Duke of Cornwall.