An English oak tree has been planted in a Wiltshire town to celebrate 71 years since the late Queen took the throne.

The tree was planted by the Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire, Sarah Rose Troughton, and Cllr Steve Abbott at Neston Recreation Ground, in Corsham, on Monday, February 6.

The day marked 71 years exactly since King George VI died and HM Queen Elizabeth II became queen, aged just 25.

Local Olympian, Stephanie Millward MBE, representatives from Corsham’s Royal British Legion and MOD Corsham, town councillors and children from local schools were all in attendance.

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald:

Neston was chosen as it is a park protected by Fields in Trust, of which the Queen was a patron.

During the ceremony Cllr Abbott said: “We will always give thanks for Her Majesty’s sense of duty and absolute dedication to the people of our country and the Commonwealth.

“So today, to pay tribute to a woman who, diligently and tirelessly, gave her heart and her devotion to us all, we plant this English oak tree in memory of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.”

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald:

The tree will be part of The Queen’s Green Canopy, a tree planting initiative to mark the Platinum Jubilee in 2022.