READING is now home to a gift given to the county of Berkshire following the Coronation of HM King Charles III.
The Queen’s Green Canopy has gifted a tree to each of the counties in the country to commemorate the Coronation, with Reading being selected as the location for Berkshire’s tree.
On Monday, October 16, a tulip tree was planted in Town Hall Square as part of a short ceremony attended by Mr James Puxley, His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of the Royal County of Berkshire.
Mr Puxley was joined by Cllr Tony Page, the mayor of Reading, and Reading Borough Council’s lead member for environmental services and community safety, Cllr Karen Rowland, where they laid soil on the base of the tree.
Mr Puxley said that a tulip tree was chosen as it was known to be “among Her late Majesty’s favourites.”
He also explained that it had originally be planned that the accompanying plaque would honour the late Queen, but now commemorates His Majesty’s coronation back in May.
Speaking at the event, Cllr Tony Page said: “Reading has an excellent track record for tree planting across the borough, but particularly in the town centre– it’s very welcome that we can plant new trees, and we’re very grateful for this addition.
“My colleague Cllr Rowland, who leads the charge on behalf the massive tree planting across the borough, and I both represent the town centre, and are therefore very appreciative of all new trees.
“We welcome this on behalf of the borough and the Royal County of Berkshire.”
The Queen’s Green Canopy was an initiative undertaken last year to mark the Platinum Jubilee of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, originated by climate change charity Cool Earth.
Following her death back in September, the King extended to initiative to March this year, inviting participants to plant trees in the memory of the late Queen.
More than three million trees were planted across the UK as part of the initiative, and are displayed on an interactive map.
Cool Earth supports indigenous peoples and communities to tackle the root causes of deforestation and protect carbon sinks, and advocates for the consultation of those communities in our response to the climate crisis.
