A mature tree has been planted at a Wordsley Park as part of Dudley Council’s support for the Diamond Jubilee.

The Mayor of Dudley and the Lord Lieutenant, John Crabtree OBE helped in the final stages of planting the majestic tree at King George V Park, Wordsley. The 11 March was chosen for the planting date as it falls on the 70th day of the year, in recognition of the Queen’s 70 years on the throne.

The new 4.5m tall Magnolia ‘Elizabeth’ takes pride of place in the formal garden at the popular park. It is the largest single tree to be planted as part of Dudley Council’s support for the Queen’s Green Canopy project, which will see thousands more trees planted across the borough.

The Queen’s Green Canopy is a unique tree planting initiative created to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022 which invites people from across the United Kingdom to 'Plant a Tree for the Jubilee'.

The council already has plans to plant trees along the borough’s highways as well as increasing canopy coverage in six wards which have less coverage. It will continue to work with Friends Groups, organisations like Woodland Trust, Trees for Cities, Severn Trent, Earthwatch UK and Friends of the Earth to identify and support planting across the borough.

The authority is also working with friends groups and Severn Trent Water who are creating 72 tennis-court-sized Tiny Forests in urban areas across the West Midlands, which will play an important role in supporting environmental education across the region. The Mayor of Dudley, Councillor Anne Millward, said:

"It was an honour to be part of this planting event and see this stunning tree take pride of place in the park. It will stand here for generations to come and form part of the queen’s legacy and show our commitment to making the borough a greener place for all."

The ceremonial planting is among a host of activities the council is organising to celebrate the jubilee. Other events a tea party on 25 May, the lighting of a beacon at Dudley Castle on June 2 and the waiving of fees for road closures for streets hosting street parties.

To request tickets for the tea party or to find out more about the borough’s jubilee activities visit the Mayor of Dudley's website.