AN ANDOVER environmental organisation is celebrating after completing its aim of enabling 10,000 children to plant 10,000 trees in 10 years.

Andover Trees United’s Harmony Woods project was founded in the year of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012, and will now be celebrated alongside the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

Celebrations will begin on Thursday, March 17, with an ‘End of the Decade’ ceremony at Harmony Woods.

Children and teachers from participating schools and community volunteers will be joined by the Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire, Nigel Atkinson Esq., and Test Valley Mayor, Cllr Mark Cooper, in a procession through the woods with flag waving and storytelling.

The children will plant their final trees and the proceedings will culminate with the planting of an oak tree to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

The ceremony will replicate that of the first oak tree planted in Harmony Woods by the then Mayor of Test Valley Dorothy Baverstoke, on November 26 2012.

READ MORE: Andover Trees United needs public for tree planting mission

Wendy Davis, founder and project leader, said: “We are thrilled that children are coming together once more to put the last of their trees in the ground 10 years later! The children who are attending will act as ambassadors for the 10,000 children who have planted over the last decade.

"We would like to take this opportunity to thank everybody who has been part of the journey and there will be lots of opportunities over the coming months for everyone to join in the celebrations of this milestone.”

For the rest of the year, the organisation is delivering various projects that align with the 10 year celebrations including an exhibition at Chapel Art Studios between June 25 and July 23, which focuses on sustainable forestry.

SEE ALSO: IN PICTURES: UN Peace Day Procession at Harmony Woods

Tree planting and maintenance of the wider Diamond Wood will be ongoing but the area set aside for the children is now complete. The organisation is now launching its next phase where it will be working closely with TVBC and other landowners to find new sites where the children of Andover can continue to gift trees to their community.

If you have land suitable for tree planting and would like to help Andover Trees United to continue tree planting with local school children, get in touch at andovertrees.org.uk/contact.

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