Herstmonceux MP, Huw Merriman, was honoured to plant a Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy tree with the Herstmonceux WI who are also celebrating their 100th Anniversary this year.
WI Secretary, Philippa Reid, invited Huw to the joint celebration in Herstmonceux Recreation Ground where a tree from the Woodland Trust’s was planted as part of the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy (QCC) project. The QCC project is part of a network of global forest conservation initiatives to mark Her Majesty’s lifetime of service to the Commonwealth.
Members of the WI and the Parish Council joined Huw on a sunny Friday morning for the tree planting ceremony.
Philippa said “We were really pleased that Huw was able to join us to plant the silver birch tree which is part of the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy project. We thought that planting this tree on the occasion of the WI’s 100th birthday was the perfect way to celebrate and we look forward to seeing it grow over the next 100 years! We were especially pleased to see Huw turn up in his wellies prepared to get stuck in with the digging!”
Huw said “It was a real pleasure and honour to be asked to take an active part in Herstmonceux WI’s double celebration. This was a wonderful way to celebrate 100 years of the village’s WI which is a thriving organisation in the local community. I also spent some time admiring the fantastic cascade of poppies on the village hall roof. The WI got the whole village involved in this wonderful tribute of remembrance; it is incredibly impressive.”
