Dozens of trees have been planted on Hampstead Heath as a living memorial to Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

A total of 11 oaks, 11 elms and 11 apple and pear trees are being planted at the beauty spot as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy campaign, a tree planting initiative created to mark The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in June.

Following her death on September 8, King Charles agreed to extend the scheme to allow people to plant trees in her memory.

On Saturday (January 14), an alder that was part of the Tree of Trees – a living sculpture that sat in front of Buckingham Palace during the Platinum Jubilee Celebrations – was planted in Golders Hill Park next to the Heath.

Ham & High: Planting an Alder tree in Golders Hill Park L-R: William Upton KC; Martin Russell, representative deputy lieutenant for Barnet; and Caroline Haines Planting an Alder tree in Golders Hill Park L-R: William Upton KC; Martin Russell, representative deputy lieutenant for Barnet; and Caroline Haines (Image: CoLC)

The tree was gifted to Hampstead Heath, which is run as a charity by the City of London Corporation, as thanks for hosting celebration events for the Golden and Platinum Jubilees in that park.

William Upton KC, chair of the corporation's Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park committee, said: “The trees on Hampstead Heath inspire so many people with their beauty and bring many environmental benefits – filtering air pollution, providing shade and increasing biodiversity by creating new wildlife habitats.

“We are honoured the Heath was chosen as part of this initiative, creating a living memorial to Her Late Majesty the Queen.”

Caroline Haines, chair of the corporation’s open spaces and city gardens committee, said:“Her Late Majesty The Queen loved the outdoor natural environment and recognised the extraordinary value of open spaces to national health and wellbeing.

“A symbol of unity for the country and Commonwealth, she reigned with an unwavering commitment to public service.

“We are excited and proud to support this campaign which will benefit people right across the country.”

The corporation manages more than 11,000 acres of open space in London and southeast England, including Epping Forest, and more than 200 smaller sites in the Square Mile; it says it invests more than £38 million a year.

The green spaces include important wildlife habitats, special areas of conservation, sites of special scientific interest, and national nature reserves.

They remove around 16,000 tonnes of carbon from the atmosphere a year, equivalent to 44% of the corporation’s annual carbon footprint.

They are also protected from being built on by special legislation.