HRH The Princess Royal visits St Barnabas Primary School in Worcestershire

The tree chosen is an Acer Autumn Blaze and has been planted next to the Worcestershire black pear that is already planted on site.

The school were selected to receive this gift of a tree, as part of the QGC Celebration Trees Initiative, due to their long standing commitment to ensuring that every child develops an excellent understanding of their environmental responsibilities. The school has been awarded eight consecutive Green Flag Eco Awards, the highest in Worcestershire.

It will also provide an opportunity to increase pupil’s on going engagement with nature & the environment around them.

The Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire, Lt Col Patrick Holcroft, said, “I am delighted that HRH The Princess Royal was able to plant a ‘celebration tree’ awarded to St Barnabas C of E primary school in Worcester as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy initiative.

The Lieutenancy, with the enthusiastic and generous support of Worcestershire County Council, began planting trees in the winter of 2020, and we are currently developing further planting initiatives involving the public in celebration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and the creation of a wonderful legacy for the County.”

Sarah Hanson, Headteacher of St Barnabas C of E Primary School, said: “It has been a real honour to host HRH The Princess Royal at St Barnabas this afternoon and for us to be chosen as the school to launch the ‘Plant a Tree for the Jubilee’ initiative in Worcestershire. Outdoor learning is such a key part of our curriculum, and our responsibility to sustainability within our local community is a driving factor. The children will never forget this exceptional day. Today’s planting will be something to look on with pride over the next few years.”

The school already have a sustainability project as part of its curriculum where children create and care for an allotment area and then share their learning with the rest of the school. 

St. Barnabas has recently acquired the lease of a piece of land that was pastureland, next to a local allotment which runs alongside the alleyway by the school. 

The school plan to use the land to create a second forest school area to build on their existing outdoor learning provision.  They are working with local volunteers from the allotment and Scouts to develop the area.

The Queen’s Green Canopy project, a unique, UK wide tree planting project aimed at creating a lasting legacy in honour of The Queen’s lifetime of service to the Nation.  Trees can be planted from October through to the end of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee year.

Her Majesty The Queen and The Prince of Wales started the tree planting season off by planting a tree as part of the QGC at Balmoral Castle on Friday 1 October.