A HAZEL tree gifted to Thurrock from the Tree of Trees that formed the Queen's Platinum Jubilee sculpture has been planted in South Ockendon today (Friday, 3 February) during a special ceremony.

HM Lord Lieutenant of Essex Mrs Jennifer Tolhurst joined Cllr Andrew Jefferies, Cabinet Member for Environment, to help plant the special tree under the Queen's Green Canopy initiative in the grounds of Brandon Groves Community Club.

Thurrock Council leader Cllr Mark Coxshall, cabinet members Cllr Qaisar Abbas, Cllr Barry Johnson, Cllr Deb Arnold and Cllr Ben Maney also attended alongside Jackie Doyle-Price MP, Cllr Joycelyn Redsell, Cllr Paul Arnold, Thurrock Council's Tree Team and local residents.

Cllr Jefferies said: "The late Queen Elizabeth II left a significant legacy after marking 70 years on the throne last year. The Queen's Green Canopy was a nationwide initiative created to mark her Platinum Jubilee year and was extended by her son, King Charles III, to the end of March 2023 to offer people an opportunity to plant trees to honour Her Majesty, following her sad passing on 8 September 2022.

"I am delighted to help plant this hazel tree with HM Lord Lieutenant of Essex in memory of Her Majesty and continue to support our teams as they plant more trees under the Queen's Green Canopy. In the 2021/2022 season we planted 460 trees, with ward councillors helping to plant 23 of those as jubilee trees across 20 of our electoral wards starting at the beginning of spring in 2022 with the Mayor's Tree in Grays Town Park. During the 2022/2023 planting season, which still has a few months left, we have been planting 230 trees across Thurrock. This typically happens in the autumn, winter and spring so the trees can establish.

"I also extend my thanks to Brandon Groves Community Club for providing refreshments after the ceremony."

The hazel tree was gifted to Thurrock at a reception on Thursday, 10 November 2022. It originally featured in the 21m Tree of Trees sculpture containing 350 British native trees at Buckingham Place, which formed a centrepiece of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee weekend celebrations in June 2022.