Oxfordshire’s Lord Lieutenant launches National Tree Week

As part of the launch of National Tree Week, Tim Stevenson, Oxfordshire’s Lord Lieutenant, has planted a disease resistant elm tree in Wootton near Woodstock.

He was helped by children from Wootton primary school. Some years ago, children from the school planted a whole copse of trees in Wootton’s Jubilee Meadow. The Jubilee Meadow is owned by the Wootton Conservation Trust who manage the land as a nature reserve and public amenity.

The Lord Lieutenant’s tree was planted next to this copse and near the tree recently planted by The Duke of Gloucester during his visit to the village in October.

As well as being helped by the children to plant his tree, the Lord Lieutenant helped the children plant a tree of their own.

It is hoped the three trees will help re-establish elm trees in this part of the county.

The Lord Lieutenant said: “In the past elm trees were an important feature of the Oxfordshire landscape. They have been sorely missed and I hope that these three trees will be the first of many.

“Trees of all kinds not only enhance our landscape and add beauty to our towns and villages, they are essential for conserving our natural wildlife, and crucially they take carbon out of our atmosphere and lock it safely away.

“We need many more of them! That’s what National Tree Week is all about.”

“We want to encourage up to a quarter of a million people - through local authorities, voluntary bodies, schools and community groups - to plant up to a million trees.”