The Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC) is a unique tree-planting project created to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022 inviting people from across the United Kingdom to “Plant a Tree for the Jubilee.”

The ceremony took place in the school’s wellbeing garden where Headteacher, Colin Scott and Chair of Governors John Glahome were joined by the Deputy Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, David Kerfoot CBE DL, Service Children's Advocate, Helen Porritt and Risedale pupils.

Mr Scott said,

“It was an honour to have the Deputy Lieutenant join us for this auspicious occasion. It’s wonderful that we’ve been able to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee by planting a tree in our school wellbeing garden. Our pupils and staff have been working so hard on making this garden a truly positive and beneficial space for the whole Risedale Family.”

Deputy Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, David Kerfoot said,

“It was a great pleasure to visit the school and to take part in the tree-planting ceremony for the Platinum Jubilee. The passion, enthusiasm and commitment the children have given to the project is very impressive.”

In March, Risedale received 30 sapling trees and 200 hedging plants from the Woodland Trust who are donating free trees for schools and communities to support the QGC and help boost tree planting across the UK. The Woodland Trust is supplying over three million saplings creating a “green legacy” in honour of The Queen's service. This nationwide effort also forms part of their own project ‘The Big Climate Fightback’ an initiative to get the UK involved in planting 50 million trees to help combat the climate crisis.

Risedale’s tree-planting ceremony was organised by Service Children's Advocate, Helen Porritt, who has been working on the school’s wellbeing garden alongside Gardener and Grounds Person, Neil Griffith, Ewan Thomson and numerous pupils, as part of the Festival of Friends project.

Mrs Porritt said,

“I am delighted that we’ve managed to complete phase 2 of our project with the help of the generous donation of trees and saplings from the Woodland Trust. The pupils have worked really hard to make a garden that will encourage wildlife and create a space that can be used by our school community to relax and enjoy the fresh air as well as learn about ecology and sustainability. It seems fitting that the tree to commemorate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee will be situated in our wellbeing garden.” 

Year 8 pupil Calum Sankey said,

“I’ve really enjoyed being part of the gardening team and am looking forward to seeing how the garden grows and develops. The tree-planting ceremony was very exciting, I had a great time.”

Year 8 pupil Toby-George Clarke said,

“After the ceremony, we were able to meet Mr Kerfoot and he spoke with all of us individually. I really enjoyed talking with him. We asked each other lots of questions and he was really interested in what we had to say. It’s been a brilliant day!”

Year 9 pupil Grace Hall-Twist said,

“Today was a wonderful opportunity to showcase our wellbeing garden. We have had the opportunity to plant lots of trees of many species to make the school grounds look more welcoming and encourage wildlife.”

What is 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 in 2022 which invites people from across the United Kingdom to “Plant a Tree for the Jubilee”.

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.

With a focus on planting sustainably, the QGC will encourage the planting of trees to create a legacy in honour of The Queen’s leadership of the Nation, which will benefit future generations. 

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.

You can find Risedale School's trees on the official QGC map by searching HERE.