John Lewis Partnership supports Queen’s Green Canopy initiative
The John Lewis Partnership has become part of a small group of royal warrant holders supporting the launch of a nationwide tree-planting initiative that also celebrates the Queen’s 70 years on the throne.
The Queen’s Green Canopy was launched by the Prince of Wales earlier this year, when he and the Queen planted the first platinum jubilee tree in the grounds of Windsor Castle. As the UK enters tree-planting season this month, individuals, companies, schools, community groups, villages, towns and cities are being encouraged to plant their own trees and add their projects to the interactive map at queensgreencanopy.org.
To support that mission, The Woodland Trust is partnering with the QGC to donate three million saplings to community groups and schools, including Pontarddulais Comprehensive School in South Wales, which is creating a new tree canopy in its grounds.
John Lewis and Waitrose are also planning projects that will include the planting of an avenue of 70 trees – one for every year of The Queen’s reign – on the Partnership’s Leckford Estate. In addition, the partnership will be helping to plant a hectare of managed woodland on 20 supplier farms.
Marija Rompani, director of ethics and sustainability at the John Lewis Partnership, said: “There are so many benefits to the QGC from a farming point of view. As well as capturing carbon and enhancing biodiversity, agroforestry does simple things like improving tree cover for livestock. Free-range hens and cattle will appreciate that extra cover.”
Sir Nicholas Bacon, chair of the QGC, added “The Jubilee is an historic occasion. In 2022, The Queen will become the first monarch in English history to celebrate 70 years of service, and the Queen’s Green Canopy is giving everyone the opportunity to celebrate this remarkable milestone by planting trees with care, so they will thrive for generations to come.”
