The National Trust has unveiled its plans to mark The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with a diverse range of tree planting projects as part of The Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC), including at Mottistone here on the Isle of Wight.
70 projects have been announced across England, Wales and Northern Ireland ranging in size from small-scale individual tree plantings where there is some significance to the property or landscape, to those where the Trust will be recreating notable, historic, lost avenues of trees.
On Mottistone Village Green, 6 walnut trees stood in a circle until about 20 years ago, when one was removed because it was old and dying. This Autumn, National Trust gardener Ed Hinch from Mottistone Gardens will close the circle once more with a 6th walnut tree, thanks to the Queen’s Canopy funding.
Ed intends to have a small ceremony on the green in late autumn, for villagers and Mottistone Garden volunteers. A member of the Seely family, who left Mottistone Manor and its estate to the National Trust in the 1960s, has been invited to plant the sixth tree.
Ed Hinch says:
“We’re not sure if walnuts have been on Mottistone village green for a long time, but of the current ones, three were planted in 1992. The tree ring encircles an old cottage well, and in the autumn the walnuts are feasted on by the locals – humans and red squirrels. It’s a great place for a bit of red squirrel-spotting actually.
“Today, the walnut circle’s an integral part of our village green landscape, which plays an important role in everyday life here in Mottistone. It’s a place where locals meet up, and visitors enjoy picnics, in surroundings that have changed very little over the centuries.”
Walnuts were often planted on village greens. They were a valuable community resource; the nuts symbolised riches and were used as charms to increase wealth. But because their roots secrete a chemical called juglone which can stunt crops they were grown in uncultivated ground along road verges and on village greens – hence the phrase ‘Wayside walnuts’.
Hilary McGrady, Director-General of the National Trust, has said:
“The Platinum Jubilee is such a special moment for the UK, so I am delighted that the Trust is able to take part in the celebrations. By taking part in The Queen’s Green Canopy we’re able to mark this historic achievement whilst also creating a legacy for the future – a fitting tribute to Her Majesty the Queen’s 70 years of service to the country.”
Sir Nicholas Bacon, Chairman of The Queen’s Green Canopy, said:
“We are delighted the National Trust is marking this special occasion with such a wonderful range of unique and inspiring Jubilee tree planting projects.
“These trees will create a special legacy for the Trust as a way of honouring Her Majesty’s lifetime of service to the country, while also helping to showcase the range of beautiful places on our doorstep for people to explore.
“We are grateful to the National Trust for supporting this wonderful initiative in The Queen’s name, and we hope many people will be inspired to get involved”.
