On a rather damp day in mid June, Catherine Hitchens (as past Chair of the
Parish Meeting) unveiled a plaque to commemorate the tree planting in the
Recreation Ground, part of the Queen’s Green Canopy, which took place in early
Spring.
Catherine kindly spoke a few words (which she has given permission to print here):
“On Sunday 18th June I had the honour of unveiling the plaque which marks Fifield’s tree planting as part of the 2022 Queen’s Green Canopy initiative. Although I have planted many trees this was the first time I had unveiled any plaque, let alone one for such a brilliant enterprise Our late Queen, Elizabeth II, who was always “ahead of the game”, always looking forward and always aware of the long term, launched the idea of a the Queen’s Green Canopy, to commemorate her Diamond Jubilee in 2022, to stretch not just across this country, but across the Commonwealth and, she hoped, the world. Following her death in September of the same year, the green canopy has become one of her lasting memorials. Courtesy of the Trustees of Fifield Memorial Recreation Ground, Fifield has planted a mix of native trees in the Recreation Ground, which is also a Queen Elizabeth II Fields in Trust, so a very fitting venue. The oak, in front of which the plaque is placed, has a possible lifetime of 900 years plus – 300 years growing, 300 years standing and 300 years dying – and so should stand sentinel long after we are all gone. Trees, as we are beginning to understand, are amongst the best friends of the environment, taking up and storing pollution to the benefit of all – think of the plane trees in London, so aptly termed, “the lungs of London”. As with every tree I have planted, or caused to be planted, I invited all those present to wish the oak and all the other trees long life and good health and shall take a keen interest in the progress of both it and all the other trees.“
Catherine Hitchens©
They are all thriving, thanks in part to the unusually heavy rains but mainly
to the team of volunteers who messaged each other regularly to check that the
saplings weren’t drying out and that someone was available to help with the
watering whenever we’ve had hot spells. Incidentally the plaque had been chosen
by popular vote at the time of the planting and beautifully mounted by Martin
Ward.
For more news from Green Fifield, please see the Village website here.
