Burghley House to spearhead Queen’s Green Canopy initiative

Wednesday, 2 March 2022 10:35

Burghley House, Stamford - CREDIT Matty Graham.

As part of celebrations for HM The Queen’s 70th year on the throne, Burghley House has been confirmed as the first location of many to plant a 70-acre woodland. Up to 70 woodlands are planned by The Woodland Trust to support The Queen's Green Canopy initiative for the Platinum Jubilee.

Burghley House has been revealed as the site of the first 70-acre woodland for the Queen’s 70 years on the throne. The initiative from The Woodland Trust is part of the ‘Plant a Tree for the Jubilee’ campaign, otherwise known as the Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC).

Burghley House in Stamford was built by William Cecil, Lord High Treasurer to Queen Elizabeth I, between 1555 and 1587. Its famous grounds will now see this new woodland add to the 60-acre Diamond Jubilee wood which was created with The Woodland Trust back in 2012; HRH The Princess Royal planted the first sapling.

Dr Darren Moorcroft, chief executive of the Woodland Trust, described the partnership with the QGC as the “ideal way to celebrate Her Majesty’s 70 years of service”.

“We are thrilled that such a prestigious venue as Burghley House has chosen to spearhead the celebration,” he added. “We want this to encourage other landowners to come forward and get involved in this exciting and ambitious initiative.

“The first of our wonderful new woods will not only be a fantastic living and growing legacy for Her Majesty but will also help fight the climate and nature crisis by locking up carbon and creating essential new wildlife habitats.”

The QGC is encouraging everyone to play their part to enhance our environment by planting trees until the end of the official planting season in March, and then again from October through to the end of the Jubilee year.

You can find out more about the Queen’s Green Canopy initiative here: The Queen’s Green Canopy (queensgreencanopy.org)