Racecourse tribute to Queen (From The Northern Echo)
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Racecourse tribute to Queen
12:52pm Friday 10th February 2012 in York & Harrogate News
THE sport of Kings is to pay its own tribute to the Queen as she celebrates 60 years on the throne.
Racecourses across the region are planting Diamond Jubilee trees as part of a national campaign by the Woodland Trust.
The Jubilee Woods Project has set itself the goal of seeing six million trees planted in 2012, along with hundreds of new woodlands.
And, as the Queen’s favourite sport, the racing industry's involvement will take in every racecourse in the country, including Catterick, Redcar, Ripon, Thirsk, York and Wetherby.
Much of the work will begin this month, and it includes the planting of an avenue of 12 cherry trees through the main car park at Ripon, while York has already planted a tree near the pre-parade ring.
Project director Georgina McLeod said: "It’s fantastic that racecourses across the country will be playing a part in helping the Woodland Trust plant six million trees.
"Horse racing has always been a big part of royal life and it is a fitting tribute to one of our longest reigning monarchs that racecourses across Britain will plant symbolic trees and woods to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee."
