The aim of The Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC) is to encourage groups, communities and organisations, across the country, to enhance the environment by planting trees throughout 2022, as well as dedicating a network of 70 Ancient Woodlands across the United Kingdom and identify 70 Ancient Trees to celebrate Her Majesty’s 70 years of service.
Joining His Excellency and Lady Dalton, are Chris Ambler, CEO of Jersey Electricity, Philip Le Sueur, Connétable of Trinity, and Anna and Rupert Bradstock, who generously donated the site for the new woodland in 2021, who will also be planting trees to mark the occasion.
The Bouley Bay Queen’s Green Canopy, is supported by Jersey Electricity as part of the Parish Earth Partnership, which aims to encourage the community to plant trees and shrubs to contribute towards carbon neutrality and to enhance biodiversity. Jersey Electricity has committed to invest up to £60,000 towards the planting of trees in each parish (£5,000 per parish)
Chris Ambler, CEO of Jersey Electricity commented:
“Jersey Electricity is delighted to continue supporting sustainability projects in the local community. This tree planting project will not only enhance the beauty and improve the environment of the Bouley Bay area, it will also boost the Island’s biodiversity and help to sequester carbon as we continue the urgent need to reduce our carbon levels.”
The National Trust for Jersey, who will co-ordinate the planting efforts on the steep côtils, are delighted to be partnering with JE again, after a joint effort by both organisations, over the past three years, saw 4,500 trees planted in Mourier Valley to extend the existing woodland cover in the valley.
Jon Parkes, Lands Manager for the National Trust added:
“We are very fortunate in Jersey to have an amazing diversity of rich habitats, from coastal heathland, to duneland and wetlands, but managed woodlands are something that are under represented here and across the UK, compared to other European countries.
Thanks to the generosity of Rupert and Anna, who donated us this site, and the sponsorship from Jersey Electricity, will be able to increase the level of existing woodland cover in Bouley Bay, providing homes, food and opportunities to venture into new territories, for wildlife.”
He also added: “Our hope for this project is that a beautiful rich woodland will be standing here in another 70 years’ time. What better way to mark such a special occasion, as the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, than by planting trees that will leave such a lasting legacy. As the American writer Michael Pollan quoted “Tree planting is always a utopian enterprise, it seems to me, a wager on a future the planter doesn't necessarily expect to witness.”
The Trust invites members of the media to join the ceremonial planting, at Le Don Bradstock, Bouley Bay Hill, on Saturday 4th June at 10am.
