Anne Milton MP digs in at Queen Elizabeth's Park

The Queen Elizabeth’s Park Residents Association (QEPRA) Gardening Sub-Committee are planning to hold a couple of events this Autumn to get local residents, particularly children, involved in caring for the grounds of the park. They hope that getting children involved will encourage respect for the estate and its wildlife as these children grow up and therefore be an investment in the future of the estate and neighbourhood.

On Saturday 12th November QEPRA held a Tree Planting Day. This is especially important as the estate has been awarded, by the Woodland Trust, a pack of 420 small sapling trees, which are to be planted to commemorate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

Amongst the trees provided were Hawthorn, Hazel, Birch, Rowan, Cherry, Dogwood plus a special Royal Oak sapling from one of the Royal Estates, which is to be Queen Elizabeth’s Park’s 'Jubilee Oak'.  The planting of the ‘Jubilee Oak’, which was attended by local residents, the QEPRA Chairman Michael Andrews, and local MP Anne Milton, was a very significant moment as it also commemorated the link with Her Majesty’s Estate and the Stoughton area.

Commenting on the event Richard Moody, a member of the QEPRA, said: “We strongly believe that getting children involved will encourage respect for the estate and its wildlife as these children grow up, and hence be an investment in the future of the estate and neighbourhood.”

Talking about the planting Anne Milton MP said: “What a great occasion to get children involved in their community.  I can’t think of a better way this can be done than by planting the ‘Jubilee Oak’.  This will also reinforce the strong royal connection of Stoughton.  Community involvement is so important and I think its significance is something that people sometimes underestimate – a big well done to Richard Moody and QEPRA for organising this fantastic event!”