Dignitaries at tree planting

Tree planted to commemorate Queen’s Jubilee

17 November 2022

His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Cheshire and Cheshire East Council, in partnership with The Wishing Well charity, planted a tree in Crewe yesterday to commemorate the reign of her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

A spectacular 21-metre ‘Tree of Trees’ sculpture featuring 350 British native trees was created outside Buckingham Palace as an exciting centrepiece of the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend celebrations in June. The follow-up to that event is that 350 trees are being set in recycled aluminium pots embossed with Her Majesty’s cypher to help inspire the next generation of tree-planters.The event at Jubilee Gardens in Crewe was the realisation of this special project in Cheshire East.

Jubilee Gardens was chosen as the location for the tree-planting in Cheshire East as it connects very strongly with the work the council is already doing in Crewe on ‘Pocket Parks’ – a government Town’s Fund project overseen by Crewe Town Board, which aims to see nine pocket parks in Crewe become more attractive and better equipped spaces for people to spend time, play and enjoy physical activity.

His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Cheshire, Lady Redmond MBE, said: “I am delighted that The Wishing Well and Cheshire East Council's ‘Pocket Gardens’ project has been chosen to receive one of these very special trees as the centrepiece of the project to regenerate Jubilee Gardens in Crewe.  

“Gifted in the name of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, this is truly well-deserved acknowledgment, bringing pleasure to many, supporting their health and wellbeing and the invaluable work of The Wishing Well. Congratulations and many thanks to all involved.”

Councillor Sam Corcoran, leader of Cheshire East Council, said: “Her Majesty planted more than 1,500 trees across the world during her astonishing 70-year reign, so it is very humbling to be involved in a project which links directly to all those great years of service. With King Charles also having a strong commitment to conservation it seems fitting in many ways to be doing this now. 

“In the true spirit of collaboration, it is really pleasing to be working with both colleagues in Ansa – who will be leading on the maintenance of the tree and of course The Wishing Well, which will be supporting that work with their wonderful volunteers.”

The Wishing Well is a voluntary group working with Cheshire East Council and the council’s wholly-owned company Ansa Environmental Services, as part of the Crewe Pocket Parks initiative. 

The Wishing Well is regenerating a dilapidated section of Jubilee Gardens, to provide an area for community activities for all ages with the aims of improving physical fitness and wellbeing and of reducing anti-social behaviour. 

Charles Maines, chief executive of The Wishing Well, said: “The Wishing Well, on behalf of the community we reach, are honoured and delighted to receive this tree in commemoration of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. 

“Furthermore, we are thrilled that this special occasion signifies the strength of our partnership with Cheshire East Council and our collaborative efforts to regenerate this area of Crewe.”