Children from St Lawrence School have planted a new native species hedge in Chobham Cemetery as part of The Queen’s Green Canopy, marking the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. The Lord Lieutenant of Surrey, Michael More-Molyneux, the Queen’s representative, joined them at a planting ceremony on 31st January.
Chobham Parish Council wanted to create a landmark that embraced the past and future; remembering The Queen’s Coronation in 1953, but also giving today’s village children the opportunity to tell future generations about how they contributed towards the Jubilee and to show their children and grandchildren the hedge they had planted.
Fifty whips of blackthorn, hawthorn, hazel and English maple were planted to form a semi-circular hedge which will form a focal point at the end of the cemetery. Eventually an oak seat will be placed there as somewhere to sit and reflect and to enjoy the view of the village and St Lawrence Church in the distance.
Ahead of the planting, councillors and other sterling volunteers, including a Chobham Society working party, had dedicated hours to digging out the 30-metre arc in the grass around the oak tree and preparing the ground, so that the hedge can flourish.
See more pictures of the event in our PICTURE GALLERY