Jubilee Oak planted at Sandridge’s Heartwood forest

A JUBILEE Oak, a sapling grown from an acorn collected from one of the royal estates, has been planted at a farm village as part of celebrations to mark the Queen’s 60 years on the throne.

It was among 60 saplings including cherry, rowan and birch, planted by 40 children and their families at Willows Farm Village in London Colney as part of the Woodland Trust’s goal of planting six million trees during the Diamond Jubilee year.

The Jubilee Oak took centre stage and was fittingly planted by Lewis, eight, and Joseph, six, Oakman from St Albans.

Their mother, Rachael Oakman, said: “Lewis and Joseph have really enjoyed planting the Jubilee Oak and the family feel genuinely proud to be invited to take part in the tree planting, and especially honoured to have the privilege of planting the oak tree.

“The boys will watch their oak growing over the coming years and one day will feel the same sense of pride when they recall to their children and grandchildren the day they planted the Jubilee Oak at Willows.”

The saplings will hopefully grow to form small-scale woodlands along the newly-created access route to Willows, off Coursers Road.

Farmer at Willows, Andrew Wolfe, said: “We’re delighted to be able to support the Woodland Trust’s Jubilee Woods Project.

“Our members turned out in force and we’re extremely grateful to them for their enthusiastic response to what is a fantastic community initiative. We’re hoping that Herts’ residents and wildlife alike will enjoy the Jubilee woodlands at Willows for years to come.”