CHILDREN have helped to plant 70 trees as part of a project to celebrate the Queen's platinum jubilee.

The year six pupils from West Park Academy, in Darlington, planted the trees at the town's Burtree garden village.

The development is being built by Hellens Group, which helped with the planting.

About 3,500 trees are being planted around the borough as part of the queen’s green canopy project.

It is a UK-wide initiative to mark the queen's jubilee this year. 

Read more: Where 3,500 trees being planted in Darlington to mark Queen's platinum jubilee

Darlington Rotary Club provided funding for the trees, which will be part of a wider arboretum, which Hellens Group has committed to delivering alongside the development.

Kate Hellens, managing director at Hellens Residential, said: “With the help of the year 6 children from West Park Academy, we planted 70 trees to mark The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

"The Queen’s Green Canopy Project encourages everyone in the UK to plant a tree for the Jubilee. The children helped us plant the trees while learning about the environment and how important it is to think sustainably to benefit future generations.

“We’re so glad that the Rotary Club has decided to support us in this venture. It’s very important to get the community involved in projects such as this right at the start.

“Hellens has big plans that as part of the Burtree Garden Village we hope to develop a large arboretum for the North of England, and planting for the Queen’s Jubilee marks the start of this.”

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Peter Phillips, president of Darlington Rotary Club, said: “We are pleased to get involved with the garden village project to contribute to the green spaces on development.”

Phoebe, 11, a student at West Park Academy, said: “I think it’s really important, not just visually because I think it would look a lot nicer, but it’s also really helpful for the environment and to help us to breathe. It also helps us to commemorate The Queen and her 70-year reign over the country.”

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