Abergavenny’s residents and primary schools met at Linda Vista Gardens on Wednesday 25th May to plant a celebratory Rowan tree to commemorate The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, ensuring the town has a long-lasting memorial of this historic event, with each school receiving its own tree kindly donated by Abergavenny Garden Centre.
As nationwide preparations begin to mark The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, Abergavenny’s locals were eager to get celebrations underway in on Wednesday 25th May. Organised by Bryn Yemm, Wednesday’s Jubilee celebrations kicked off with thanks to Abergavenny Garden Centre who had donated 10 of the indigenous Sorbus Aucuparias, also known as Rowan trees, to the event, presenting local primary schools with their own to take back to their schools.
Representatives from Cantref, Deri View, Gilwern, Llanfoist, Llanvihangel, Llantilio Pertholey, Our Lady & St. Michael’s, Ysgol Gymraeg Y-Fenni and Cross Ash primary school all received their own Rowan Tree to be planted at their school grounds and will be a lasting symbol of the widely celebrated Platinum Jubilee.
The celebrations continued with local dance group Dance Attack performing to Bryn Yemm’s live rendition of “Jubilee Party”.
Tony Konieczny, Abergavenny’s Town Mayor, said: “A huge thanks goes to the Abergavenny Garden Centre for donating these amazing Rowan trees which will commemorate The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. For the children here today, these trees may not seem significant to you now, but year on year, you will see them flower and grow as you will grow. I hope many people get pleasure from it.”
Cllr. Laura Wright, Chair of Monmouthshire County Council, said: “I hope we can all consider planting trees in our gardens, focusing on increasing the urban tree canopy and doing what we can to tackle climate change in the process. I also want to say a huge thank you to the children for their efforts and incredible dance performances we’ve seen at today’s Jubilee event.
“I think this celebration will give us all something special to remember when we look at these trees, and how well they’re growing, reminding us of this amazing Jubilee event in years to come.”
The tree planting comes at a great time of year, as the Council are promoting the Nature Isn’t Neat campaign which aims to let areas of grassland grow, allowing wildflowers to flower for longer, and provide habitats for wildlife and pollinating insects like bees and butterflies.
Environments which support a wider range of wildlife will benefit residents’ health and mental wellbeing, while encouraging them to take time to enjoy our green spaces, letting us observe flowers, insects and other wildlife make themselves at home in these natural green spaces.