Bournville residents were joined by Mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street, at a tree planting in honour of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
The event was organised by ExtraCare’s Bournville Gardens Retirement Village and residents were delighted to get involved. Resident Hubert Powell, 87, came up with the idea, he said: “Having met the Queen, I wanted to do this. These things only happen once in hundreds of years when a monarch can celebrate such an anniversary. It’s beautiful to think the tree will remain to remind those in the future of this.”
The tree, a crab apple tree (Malus), will grow for years to come and serve as a permanent reminder of the Queen’s leadership of the nation.
Village Manager, Annette Leslie said: “The tree is a welcome addition to our thriving gardens we hope that residents will be able to come and sit by it throughout the seasons. Who knows maybe their own grandchildren will also get to enjoy this tree in generations to come.”
Helping to organise the event was Chair of the Residents Association, Norma Broadbridge, 89, she commented: “With resident and management collaboration we were delighted to have the mayor join us for this event. A commemorative plaque will also be ordered to go alongside the tree.”
The village’s oldest resident Joyce Treadwell, 102, who still plays bowls twice a week, assisted with the planting and the mayor gave a speech to residents before collecting a shovel and taking part himself. Many gathered on balconies to watch the event in the gardens. The village put on tea and cakes for all attendees afterwards where the mayor spent time with residents discussing what the event meant to them.
Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “I was delighted to help the residents of Bournville Gardens mark Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee by planting a tree that should act as a reminder for many years to come.
ExtraCare always offer a warm welcome when I visit one of their retirement villages, and I enjoyed talking to the residents at Bournville Gardens, many of whom I have met before.
Tree planting also plays a part in making our region cleaner and greener and this is a wonderful example of that in action. The tree we planted together was not only a fitting way of honouring the jubilee, it also offers a place that both residents and visitors can enjoy too. I look forward to revisiting it in the future.”
