Queen's Green Canopy

The Queen’s Green Canopy is supporting counties to create a network of individual or specimen trees, tree avenues, copses and woodlands to enhance the country’s environment and landscapes to thank the Queen for her exceptional service. Throughout her reign the Queen has planted more than 1,500 trees all over the world.

The Church of England is proud to be a partner for the Queen’s Green Canopy and is encouraging tree planting in schools and churchyards with a tree planting and preservation campaign that will leave a lasting legacy to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022. 

Quality green space is essential not just for the environment, but also for residents’ health and wellbeing.  This tree planting will not only create natural corridors for biodiversity, but link the county together through creative planting of its footpaths and bridleways. 

 

Tree Wardens

Your first step may be to find out if your parish has a tree warden here.  Your tree warden may also be interested in collecting seeds from your older or ancient trees in the view to growing new saplings for use elsewhwere.

 

Queen's Canopy in Suffolk

Please click the website links below where you will find information on making a donation in support of tree planting in Suffolk and details of how to register your tree planting so it is recorded on the database:

Suffolk Queen's Canopy  | weblink

Record your tree planting nationally | weblink

Make a donation | weblink

The Woodland Trust is supporting churches, schools and community groups by offering over three million saplings in tree packs.. Information on how to apply for the free saplings is available through the Woodland Trust website

You may also wish to mark the occasion with a commemorative plaque please visit the commemorative plaque page for more details. 

 

DAC Advice on Applications by PCCs for Churchyard Tree Planting

Bishop Martin's trees

 

Bishop Martin has more than 400 trees grown from seed to help serve as a memorial to the late Queen Elizabeth. The hornbeam trees will be planted in nearly all of the parishes of the St Edmundsbury and Ipswich Diocese.  Read full story here.

The Chancellor has granted a Section 78 Order for the planting of one of Bishop Martin’s saplings in contribution to the Queen’s Green Canopy.  A copy of the order is available here.  The Order is ‘blanket permission’ for parishes to proceed with the planting without further ado from yourselves or the DAC. The planting of trees usually requires List B approval see below, and still does for any trees not planted in line with the Order. If you require further information please email Charlotte Hodgeson

Other tree planting

Generally the planting of trees falls under Schedule 1, List B (B7.1): matters which may be undertaken without a faculty. Regard must be had to the guidance issued by the Church Buildings Council:

Tree planting guidance | weblink

To ensure that tree planting proposals are carefully designed, planned, and managed, the DAC recommends that the following documents are submitted along with the list B application and offers the accompanying advice.  This will help make the process as quick as possible.

1) A planting plan for the area in the churchyard to be planted might be requested

The DAC recommends that PCCs have a plan of the churchyard:

  • The archdeacon might ask to see a plan, if there are concerns about what you want to plant, or the number of trees being planted.
  • Ideally, if a plan is requested, it should be marked-up with dots and approximate canopy circles for existing trees and large shrubs. This might be based on a tree survey you have for the churchyard. 
  • A schedule or key can be used to indicate all species.
  • Proposed new trees and shrubs should be marked with a simple cross/+. A schedule can be added or attached. 
  • A colour plan might be helpful to highlight new trees but is not essential.

Please note: If any trees need to be removed, these should also be indicated. The felling of a healthy tree requires a faculty. The felling of a tree that is dying or dead, or has become dangerous, falls under Schedule 1, List B (B7.2). Specified conditions apply.

2) A list of the species of trees the PCC would like to plant, how many and where 

These can be marked on your churchyard planting plan. The DAC favours native trees, which are in-keeping with the natural surroundings, habitat, and ecosystems.  However, non-native trees such as ornamental crab, cherry, Ginkgo, evergreens (such as Cedar) and many others might be appropriate, particularly where you wish to enhance the churchyard and create a specific effect with ornamental flower, leaf colour and/or evergreen foliage.

The DAC is unlikely to support species which might look out of character or be problematical in future such as Cupressus, Eucalyptus or laurel. Species which bear poisonous fruit/berries and flowers such as laburnum should be used with care. Yew is of course a traditional churchyard tree so could be an exception.

When selecting your trees, please consider other factors such as, proximity to the church, other buildings and structures, key views of the church, churchyard, and other local features, shading from the church or nearby buildings, impact on wildflower grassland, the stability of structures such as headstones, box tombs, and churchyard walls, soil conditions, and access for tree management. 

The overall size, height, span, and root depth/spread of the proposed trees once mature should be a key consideration. Make sure space is available to accommodate the tree when grown to full size. Or anticipate the management which may be needed, such as pollarding some lime trees. Consider who will maintain the tree/s and carry out formative watering/pruning so that they become well-established and thrive.

It is important that the overall effect and character required for the churchyard is considered. The local character of the churchyard and its setting/surrounding landscape should help inform suitable tree species and the approach to planting. 

The DAC is likely to support a well-designed plan where it can be shown that proposed trees will enhance the churchyard, and where there is suitable space available. 

3) Photographs of the area to be planted, including any established trees or shrubs might also assist your application 

 

Closed Churchyards

A closed churchyard remains subject to faculty jurisdiction yet often, responsibility for its maintenance has been transferred by the PCC to the local authority (the parish, town, or district council). In such cases, the DAC recommends that the PCC consults with the local authority before making an application to ensure that the planting of a new tree/s does not cause a maintenance issue.

 

Further information

Church of England Care of trees advice and guidance | weblink

Caring for Gods Acre | weblink

Woodland Trust | weblink

 

Page last updated: Monday 31st July 2023 2:49 PM

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