The planting of 70 oaks to recognise The Queen’s 70-year reign is well underway at Riverside Park, with trees already stretching from near Cobden Bridge as far as the practice cycle track.

It’s part of the Queen’s Green Canopy initiative (QGC), which invites people from across the UK to ‘Plant a Tree for the Jubilee’.

Eventually the trees will stretch to roughly opposite the Southern Water treatment works.

“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,” says the QGC website.

It’s thought the planting at Riverside Park should be complete within a couple of weeks, and eventually a plaque will contextualise the line of 70 trees.

They are fastigiate oaks, which are apparently less prone to diseases, and which grow upright and are shaped more like cyprus trees.

Funding comes from Southampton City Council as part of their tree planting budget for the year. We understand money has also been set aside for maintenance.

Friends of Riverside Park previously suggested that they should also have a sack watering reservoir system. Some others planted along the riverside stretch without this have perished due to insufficient water in hot spells.

The May Bank Holiday Weekend will be moved to Thursday, June 2, and an additional Bank Holiday on Friday, June 3 will see a four-day weekend to celebrate the Jubilee - the first time any British monarch has reached this milestone.

Pic: L Owen