A church in southern Powys has become the first in the area to plant trees for a new initiative to mark next year’s Platinum Jubilee.

On Wednesday, December 1, Capel Coelbren became the first church in the Diocese of Swansea and Brecon to plant the trees for the Queen’s Green Canopy Project.

The Lord Lieutenant of West Glamorgan, Mrs Louise Fleet JP and Mrs Ceri Havard, Deputy Lieutenant in Powys, planted two trees in the picturesque churchyard, which overlooks the Brecon Beacons.

The Lord Lieutenant was attended by her sea cadet for this year, PO Cadet Amelia Willn, who made an able umbrella-bearer on the cold and wet morning.

Following the planting, the civic party – which included the High Sheriff of West Glamorgan and the Under Sheriff; the mayor of Neath Port Talbot; district councillor Cllr David Thomas, and the chair of Tawe Uchaf Community Council Cllr Stephen Davies – warmed up with refreshments in Coelbren Miners’ Welfare and Memorial Hall, where four trees had already been planted earlier that morning.

Rev’d Jon Howard RNR, Assistant Curate blessed the trees before the planting, saying: “We are delighted to be part of this project. Capel Coelbren has recently attained the Eco Church Bronze Award and this initiative begins our journey towards the Silver Award.

“Caring for creation is at the heart of what we believe and this is a demonstrable action to combat climate change being undertaken by the congregation.”

The Queen’s Green Canopy is a unique tree planting initiative created to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022 which invites people from across the United Kingdom to ‘Plant a Tree for the Jubilee’.

Everyone from individuals to Scout and Girlguiding groups, villages, cities, counties, schools and corporates will be encouraged to play their part to enhance our environment by planting trees during the official planting season between October to March.

Tree planting will commence again in October 2022, through to the end of the Jubilee year. With a focus on planting sustainably, the QGC will encourage planting of trees to create a legacy in honour of The Queen’s leadership of the Nation, which will benefit future generations.

As well as inviting the planting of new trees, the QGC will dedicate a network of 70 Ancient Woodlands across the United Kingdom and identify 70 Ancient Trees to celebrate Her Majesty’s 70 years of service.