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Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council Logo

12/01/2023

New Year, New Trees

Schools across the Borough are marking the New Year by planting an oak tree in honour of the late Queen Elizabeth II’s ‘Queen’s Green Canopy’ project.

Schools across the Borough are marking the New Year by planting an oak tree in honour of the late Queen Elizabeth II’s ‘Queen’s Green Canopy’ project. The tree-planting initiative began last year as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and has been extended to include the autumn-to-spring tree-planting season.

Almost 23 schools took the opportunity to plant an oak tree on their school premises.  The Queen’s Green Canopy project has already seen hundreds of trees planted throughout the Borough, which also accumulates towards the Council’s ambitious One Million Trees initiative.  

The Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Alderman Stephen Ross said,

“As we move into 2023, we are remembering the late Queen Elizabeth II by planting an oak tree in special places as part of her legacy, the Queen’s Green Canopy programme. 

“It’s great to get our local school children involved as we create long-lasting memories and it builds on their understanding of creating a greener, more eco-friendly environment for them and our future generations.

“A few weeks ago I was privileged to meet Stewart Hood, a 77-year-old who planted 20,000 trees on his land in Randalstown and on Steeple Road, Antrim. This is a phenomenal initiative and hopefully, this will inspire our local school children to continue to plant trees if they get the opportunity.”

Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council is encouraging community groups and businesses in the Borough to support the One Million Trees Initiative. If you have a plot of land and would like to help make a difference in our environment in 2023, register your interest at antrimandnewtownabbey.gov.uk/plantatree

Alternatively, community groups interested in planting an oak tree as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy programme can email biodiversity@antrimandnewntownabbey.gov.uk

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