PUPILS from Finchingfield C of E Primary School have dug in to help a district council commemorate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

The school’s students joined Braintree district councillor John Finbow on the village playing field on Tuesday to plant an oak tree.

Cllr Finbow said: “We are planting an oak in each parish in the Braintree district as the oak symbolises strength and tradition and is the perfect way to celebrate Her Majesty’s 60 years on the throne.”

Parish clerk Kate Fox said: “The Jubilee Oaks project kick starts the celebrations from next year’s diamond jubilee. We chose the playing field because it is well used and the tree will be looked after.

“The parish council and the school work closely so it was great to see the children at the planting.

“Hopefully this can be incorporated into their learning as teachers can explain why we planted the tree which will lead nicely into the school’s own celebrations next year.”

Braintree District Council launched its Jubilee Oaks initiative, as part of its Green Heart of Essex campaign, by giving each parish a tree to plant as a way to involve local communities across the district in the Jubilee celebrations.

The �20,000 initiative, funded via the council’s Green Heart of Essex campaign, includes working in partnership with Essex County Council, to deliver tree warden training, approval of planting sites, and purchase of trees and stakes. The council has also enlisted the services of British Trust for Conservation Volunteers to help communities with the tree planting.

Cabinet member for environment, Cllr Wendy Schmitt, said: “We thought long and hard about how we could mark the royal occasion in a way that inspires and involves local people; that fits well with our aim to be one of the cleanest and greenest districts in the country and which symbolises the heritage and longevity of the Queen’s reign.

“With the Jubilee Oaks initiative we’ve found a wonderful solution.”

The Diamond Jubilee officially runs for four days from June 2-5 next year.

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