The Queens Diamond Jubilee Tree Planting at The Long Eaton School

Tree wardens, staff and students old and new from The Long Eaton School helped the Lord Lieutenant of Derbyshire, Mr William Tucker, plant a special tree to mark The Queens Diamond Jubilee.It was very appropriate that helping with the planting was Rotarian Alan Wiggins, who had been a student at the school during the coronation 60 years ago, and also Milly Dainty one of the schools’ current youngest students.Erewash Borough Council Tree Wardens, staff from Initial and gardeners from Woodland Landscapes Ltd helped to prepare the ground for planting.The tree was donated by The Tree Council and the schools Eco-Interactors chose a Scarlet Willow otherwise known as a Salix alba Chermisina. It is also called the Coral-bark Willow. It has bright orange twigs in winter when it becomes a conspicuous fine waterside tree reaching a height of 28 m. Collins Tree Guide p164-165 states that, in winter sunlight, the tree is like a giant flame.Barbara James, Eco-Interact Coordinator said “This tree will look really lovely as a memento for the Diamond Jubilee and will also create a bit of local history. Working with the Tree Council and the Tree Wardens the project will be one of only 60 trees planted in the country to celebrate The Queens Diamond Jubilee.  Each tree will have a page in a special Diamond Jubilee gift book, telling the planting stories, which will be formally presented to Her Majesty, The Queen. The tree will have a commemorative plaque and a QR barcode which, when read using smartphones, redirects users to a web page where we will tell the story of planting our tree”.