The President for COP26 and Minister of State at the Cabinet Office, the Right Honourable Alok Sharma MP, visited Eridge Park near Tunbridge Wells on Friday as the guest of the Marquess of Abergavenny. The Minister planted a beech tree on behalf of the Eridge Village Hall charity and dedicated to the Queen’s Green Canopy, a nationwide initiative marking the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee year and her 70 years of service.
The COP26 President was hosted on a short visit to this area of Sussex by Wealden MP Nusrat Ghani, and was joined at the planting by Chantal Wilson DL, representing the Lord-Lieutenant of East Sussex, Eridge Village Hall committee representatives and East Sussex councillors. About 20 people watched the tree being planted beside the Sussex border path on a lovely January day with stunning views across Eridge’s historic deer park.
Nusrat Ghani said: ‘The Queen’s Green Canopy is a wonderful tribute to Her Majesty’s exceptional service and leadership, and a positive opportunity to engage communities across the country in contributing to making our environments greener. Trees are a vital part of the UK’s strategy of tackling the climate crisis and I was delighted to welcome the COP26 President to Wealden to plant a tree in Eridge Park as part of the initiative.’
The COP26 President said: ‘As COP26 President, I am a big supporter of the Queen’s Green Canopy and the environmental gains we achieve through increased tree planting. I know that East Sussex, along with many other counties, is taking this task seriously and they should be congratulated.’
Lord Abergavenny said: ‘It was a real show of support for the President of COP26 to come along and join our local MP, Nusrat Ghani, at the ceremony. I would also like to thank the community representatives who took the trouble to come and celebrate the tree planting.’
The Queen’s Green Canopy aims to create a national canopy of trees to help reduce the impact of climate change, filter air, increase wildlife habitat and improve the environment for all.
There is an opportunity for everyone to get involved in planting a commemorative tree, whether in your own garden or as part of a community group, a parish council, a church, a school, a charity or a business. For more information on the Queen’s Green Canopy in East Sussex visit: https://www.ruralsussex.org.uk/what-we-do/other/queens-green-canopy/ and https://queensgreencanopy.org/
For information on Eridge Village Hall visit: https://www.eridge-village-hall.co.uk/
Pictured below: Eridge Village Hall representatives and COP26 President Rt Hon Alok Sharma
