BASINGSTOKE’S MP has joined more than 500 counterparts in planting trees as part of the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy, a network of forest conservation initiatives to mark Her Majesty’s lifetime of service to the Commonwealth.

Maria Miller helped plant the trees in three locations; a silver birch at the Peace Garden in Memorial Park; two rowan saplings at Beggarwood Park, in conjunction with the Beggarwood Café in the Park and the Kempshott branch of Sainsbury’s which is a co-sponsor of the initiative; and a silver birch and a hazel at Inspero Community Garden in Kempshott.

The trees were donated to the MP via a partnership between the Woodland Trust, Sainsbury’s and ITV, which in April screened a landmark documentary, The Queen’s Green Planet.

Mrs Miller said: “This is such a wonderful initiative and I am delighted to join the Mayor, local volunteers and Borough Councillors at the three planting ceremonies.

“It will be lovely to see the trees grow and flourish, linking Basingstoke to the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy.”