ENGLISH Heritage has today planted a Hawthorn tree at Mount Grace Priory dedicated to Queen Elizabeth II in celebration of the monarch’s upcoming Platinum Jubilee.

The ceremony saw schoolchildren from Osmotherley Primary School plant the tree as part of the heritage charity’s celebrations of the Queen’s 70 years on the throne.

The act of planting memorial trees to mark important occasions or in remembrance of particular individuals is a significant gesture in modern British culture.

It has been a hallmark of previous royal jubilee celebrations, and also used to commemorate those killed during the world wars, with nature seen as a symbol of healing and renewal after the tumult of conflict.

James Taylor, head gardener at Mount Grace Priory said: “Commemorative trees are a poignant way of marking significant personal and national moments with a long-lasting gesture.

"From monarchs to wartime communities, many people across Britain have taken part in this tradition over the last century to celebrate landmark events or the legacy of loved ones they have lost. English Heritage is delighted to have planted this tree today ahead of Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee, and we hope visitors will enjoy taking a moment of reflection among them in the years to come."

Visit: www.english-heritage.org.uk/learn/conservation/gardens-and-landscapes/commemorative-trees.

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