Worthing CIC The Wellderness invites community to planting ceremony with Lord-Lieutenant of West Sussex after being chosen as Tree of Trees custodian

By Elaine Hammond
Published 18th Nov 2022, 15:28 BST
Updated 18th Nov 2022, 15:28 BST
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A Worthing community interest company that improves people's lives through nature has been chosen as a custodian of one of 350 trees from the Tree of Trees at Buckingham Palace, reflecting the Queen’s Green Canopy initiative.

The Wellderness is celebrating the honour with a community tree planting event at Wild Heart Hill in Findon on Saturday, November26, with special guests including Lady Emma Barnard, the Lord-Lieutenant of West Sussex. Free tickets for the event are available on Eventbrite.

Matt Dumbleton, co-founder of The Wellderness, said: "I hope this tree and what it represents can inspire others to reconnect to nature and feel the benefits of living in community with one another and our wider environment."The Wellderness has already planted 1,100 trees in the South Downs National Park, between October 2021 and March 2022.

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Matt added: "This year, we plan to do even better. This special tree will be one of the many that we’ll plant in contribution to South Downs National Park’s target of 11,000 trees planted throughout the current season."More than a million trees will be planted in memory of Queen Elizabeth II and the Queen’s Green Canopy she started will create a living legacy across the United Kingdom.

With the support of the community, The Wellderness has planted 1,100 trees in the South Downs National Park already and plans to do even betterWith the support of the community, The Wellderness has planted 1,100 trees in the South Downs National Park already and plans to do even better
With the support of the community, The Wellderness has planted 1,100 trees in the South Downs National Park already and plans to do even better

The Tree of Trees was a living sculpture that took pride of place outside Buckingham Palace during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June. Each of the 350 native saplings have been handed over to chosen organisations, like The Wellderness.

Mark Cropley, co-founder, said: "For a small, volunteer-led organisation, this is a tremendous honour and it will act as a beacon to inspire our local community to create their own 1,000-year legacy.

"We were nominated by Jose Lavelle from Wild Heart Hill Campsite in Findon. It was a huge surprise and we’re incredibly grateful to Jose for kindly putting us forward. Situated in the South Downs National Park and with the Monarch’s Way running through the site, Wild Heart Hill is the perfect place for us to plant the tree."

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