Trees planted at Margate’s Tudor House for Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy project

The tree planting at Margate's Tudor House

Five trees have been planted in the grounds of Margate’s historic Tudor House today (October 23) as part of the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy project.

The project was launched in 2015 with an appeal to all 53 Commonwealth nations to take part in tree planting to mark Her Majesty’s long service.

Tudor House was one of 10,000 organisations and individuals to be planting some 50,000 trees in the UK this Autumn to mark the project.

The trees have been donated via a partnership between Sainsbury’s, the Woodland Trust and ITV, which screened The Queen’s Green Planet programme in April.

Viscount De L’Isle plants with help from Robin Haddon

It is thought that the Tudor House was the only venue in Thant to successfully receive the tree pack, made up of two silver birch, two rowan and one hazel sapling.

Cllr Iris Johnston

The trees were planted at the ceremony today by Lord Lieutenant of Kent Viscount De L’Isle, Lady Suzy Gale, Margate mayor Cllr Julie Dellar, Margate councillor Iris Johnston -who was also celebrating her birthday -and Seppy Oduwole from Holy Trinity & St John’s school.

Lady Suzy Gale

Margate Museum Trustees chairman Robin Haddon said at the planting that the trees were also appropriate for their symbolism.

He said: “The Tudor House has its own element of spirits and is slightly haunted. The rowan is known for mystical qualities to protect against witches. The hazel protects against evil spirits and is used for water divining and the silver birch is known for renewal and purification, love and fertility so we believe this is a very apt time of the year for planting.”

Margate mayor Cllr Julie Dellar

Viscount D L’Isle said he hoped the trees would flourish in the same way as the Commonwealth.

The final tree to be planted by primary pupil Seppy is to mark “the future” said Trustee Felicity Stafford.

Seppy Oduwole from Holy Trinity & St John’s school

The aim of the canopy scheme is to create a unique network of forest conservation projects across the Commonwealth.

Read here: Trust confirms it will bid for Margate Museum and Tudor House as councillors agree first step of asset disposal

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