Queen's Platinum Jubilee: trees planted across Clackmannanshire

People are already getting involved in the Queen's Green Canopy Campaign, marking 70 years of her reign.

Residents, youth and community groups as well as organisations across the county are being encouraged to plant trees as part of the initiative, which is hoped to go some way in promoting wildlife and biodiversity.

In recent weeks, people such as Robert Wilson of Muircot Farm in Coalsnaughton, James Cuthbertson of Broadcarse Farm in Clackmannan and members of Tillicoultry Parish Church have all panted tress as part of the campaign.

One of the many trees already planted across Clackmannanshire to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee

Tim Allan CBE, deputy lord lieutenant for Clackmannanshire, is leading the initiative in the area.

He told the Advertiser: "I think it's a brilliant idea. At the stage we are at with climate change in the world, we need to address the crisis and the carbon footprint of our country."

The programme has made available three million saplings for youth groups and community organisations through the Woodland Trust and these are being snapped up quickly.

Many are planting of their own accord and Mr Allan believes as many as five million may be planted across the UK this year.

Mr Allan himself is re-wilding his small Muckhart farm in the process and explained how the initiative can be about much more than just trees.

He said: "We can all plant a tree in a garden, which is great, we can plant a forestry block for future use, that's fine, but I think what's really important is also to plant areas which can be other shrubs and hedges for wildlife to move back into.

"I am really keen, for example, to get red squirrels back on our farm and to do that we plant Scots pine.

"It's an incredibly simple but virtuous scheme."

While the initiative is helping to mark 70 years of the queen's service to the country, Mr Allan stressed people do not need to be supporters of the royal family to get involved.

He said: "There's no reason not to take part in the simple process of planting a tree for our future and for our future generations."

Any trees or areas planted up to March or between October and December this year can be included in the initiative, and planted areas can be registered for an online map.

Visit queensgreencanopy.org for more information.