The Duchy of Cornwall is offering every household in Nansledan a free tree to plant as part of The Queen’s Green Canopy initiative.

The Queen’s Green Canopy was created to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee and invites people from across the United Kingdom to ‘Plant a Tree for the Jubilee’.

The Duchy is giving every household in its Nansledan development at Newquay – almost 600 in total – the opportunity to choose and plant a tree in their garden to commemorate the historic event.

Throughout August residents are being asked to choose their three preferred trees from a list of species drawn up by the Duchy’s Head Forester Geraint Richards. The aim is to provide residents with one of their preferred species, or, if not available, something very similar.

Trees will be delivered during the autumn planting season and local florist and homeware business HOME Nansledan is supporting the Duchy in co-ordinating the scheme.

Geraint, who sits on the board of The Queen’s Green Canopy initiative, said: “The Queen’s Green Canopy is all about planting trees to create a legacy to benefit future generations, in honour of The Queen’s leadership of the nation.

“For Nansledan we have chosen a range of species suited to the coastal climate including fruit trees, ornamental flowering trees, bird friendly trees and species that provide summer foliage and autumn colour so that we have a real variety across the community.

“One of the key aims of Nansledan is to enhance biodiversity, so we’re delighted to be able to offer a free tree to every household that they can nurture.”

The Duchy is significantly enriching the ecology of Nansledan with more than 30 hectares of wildflower meadows, tree and shrub planting, parkland, orchards, wetlands, ponds, and community allotments to promote local food production.

Earlier this year His Royal Highness The Duke of Cornwall visited the Royal British Legion Centenary Woodland at Nansledan where he unveiled a plaque dedicating the woodland to The Queen’s Green Canopy, of which he is Patron.

As well as inviting the planting of new trees, The Queen’s Green Canopy is dedicating a network of 70 ancient woodlands across the United Kingdom and identifying 70 ancient trees to celebrate Her Majesty’s 70 years of service.

Nansledan has been under construction since 2014. When it is finished it will have 4,000 homes, around 4,000 new jobs and a resident population of almost 8,000 people.

Picture: Hugh Hastings