As part of the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee, the Queen's Green Canopy set out to create a living legacy of a million trees planted in celebration. In memory of her late majesty, Trees of St Albans have donated and planted a young mulberry tree near the Garden of Hope.
On Sunday 12 March, we had a short service of blessing for the tree after our 10am service. As part of the blessing, Anthony Helm, organiser of the procurement and planting of the tree, both wrote and read a poem in honour of the occasion.
Today a tree is planted
In this quiet ancient place
We gather in a circle
Respectful and with grace
Each planting is important
Connecting as it does
Humanity and nature
Predicting springtime’s buzz
New trees are essential
Yet we need them gnarled and old
We need them by the roadsides
Counteracting traffic’s hold
Trees lift the human spirit,
Give hope to everyone,
Whatever be their journey,
Be it hard or very long
They filter muddy waters,
Revitalise dusty air,
Soften unwanted noises,
Shade those in deep despair
And in this city churchyard
We’ve widened vast our scope
This tree becomes a beacon
It is our “Tree of Hope”
~Anthony Helm
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