Tree-mendous honour for 'amazing' Buckie's Roots group
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A TRIBUTE to the Queen's platinum jubilee which will last for generations has been awarded to a Buckie community group.
Buckie's Roots were delighted and honoured to hear earlier this month (Advertiser, 11/10/2022, Royal honour for Buckie's Roots group) that they were to receive one of the ‘Tree of Trees’ from the Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC) project, the only group within historic Banffshire to be given the honour.
They are one of 300 groups up and down the UK to receive one of the trees.
The trees from the project are gifted in a pot embossed with Her Majesty’s cypher.
Yesterday (Monday) saw Buckie’s Roots formally presented with their tree by the Lord Lieutenant of Banffshire Andrew Simpson at the start/terminus of the Speyside Way off North High Street.
Describing the Green Canopy idea as "wonderful" and one which had seen thousands of trees planted across historic Banffshire, he told Buckie's Roots volunteers: “We as Lord Lieutenants were asked to find a group that we could present it [a tree] to, a group that had done something for the community, a group that had been involved in the platinum jubilee events and a group we knew we could trust to look after the tree for a long, long time.
"Who else could I think of but Buckie's Roots? You folks did come to mind very quickly as meeting all those criteria, you've been doing an amazing job for the community in so many different ways.
"Not just the square, where I think it all started...but the other work you've done here and elsewhere [as well as] inspiring others, starting up other initiatives and getting other groups to come in and join you. I've heard about you going round schools and...getting youngsters to plant bulbs and things like that.
"That's a fantastic job you're doing so this today is not just recognising the Queen, although that's the key, the most important element of it, but I think it's also recognising yourselves and the good work that that you've done."
Mr Simpson added that he was delighted to be there as the King's representative, the first time he had done so since the death of the Queen.
He went on to present two letters – one from the organisers of the QGC and also one from the Queen.
Buckie’s Roots chairwoman Meg Jamieson said: “This honour today means so much to Buckie’s Roots members.
"We began with six people who wanted to tidy the square and four years on we have the honour of accepting this tree.
"Our members bring so many skills to our team from gardening through to litter picking, crafting and cooking. They support other groups within the community and we have a 'give it a go approach' to making Buckie bonny.
"We chose this area for the tree as it's barrier free, has parking close at hand and is enjoyed by our community, walkers and visitors. We feel it’s important that everyone has the chance to spend time in this lovely area and we will be placing a plaque within a bed by the tree.
"For our dedicated members this means so much as we work away to make our town look bonny. We are honoured to be accepting this tree for historic Banffshire.
"We would like to thank Andrew Simpson, our Lord Lieutenant, for his continual support to Buckie’s Roots and to our community."
The area where the tree has been planted has already been given a boost earlier this year by Buckie;s Roots when they unveiled an area for rest and reflection, including seating, a picnic table and a planter in June this year.
‘Tree of Trees’ aimed to act as a message of hope, regeneration and optimism to the nation and the world as part of the platinum jubilee weekend celebrations in June.
The tree becomes part of the living legacy in honour of Her Majesty, joining over a million trees already planted across the UK as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy.
The QGC initiative has been extended to the end of the planting season in March 2023, to give people an opportunity to plant trees to honour Her Majesty.
Designed by Thomas Heatherwick, the QGC ‘Tree of Trees’ sculpture sought to put the importance of trees at the heart of this historic milestone to celebrate Her Majesty, who planted over 1500 trees all over the world throughout her 70-year reign.
During the summer, the trees were cared for by Barcham’s Nursery ahead of distribution at the start of the planting season in October.
The trees have been gifted evenly across the UK in proportion to the population, with each county receiving at least one tree. The Lord Lieutenants of each county, who are His Majesty the King’s representatives, have been championing the QGC locally and have selected the recipients of the special trees.
The gift of a tree is a ‘thank you’ for all the valuable and tireless work that volunteers and individuals undertake for the benefit of their communities
The initiative is also a celebration of the diverse communities that come together for the benefit of all, often using the natural environment to improve health and wellbeing
It is hoped that these special trees will raise awareness of the need to plant trees.
