The sculpture was one of the centrepieces of the Queen’s celebrations, honouring her seven decades on the throne, as it became the first in a chain of 1,500 beacons lit across the UK and Commonwealth countries.

It was also part of the major Platinum Jubilee project, The Queen’s Green Canopy. A unique tree-planting initiative inviting people from across the UK to ‘Plant a tree for the Jubilee’, creating a legacy in honour of Her Majesty’s leadership of the Nation and benefiting future generations.

The University was nominated to receive one of 350 British native saplings by His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Kent, The Lady Colgrain.

Set in silver pots embossed with Her Majesty’s cypher, the trees are being gifted to selected community groups and organisations in recognition of their positive impact within their communities, to celebrate their work and inspire the next generation of tree planters across the nation.

Lady Colgrain said: “The Queen’s Green Canopy was such a wonderful idea to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, with over a million trees planted.

"The Tree of Trees sculpture, a sustainable beacon, epitomised the Green Canopy project and sustainability. I hope that this tree will bring pride to your organisation and community and be enjoyed by many students, staff, and visitors to your campus for generations to come.”

The ceremony to receive and plant the 8-foot silver birch also recognised the University’s own Diamond Jubilee year, celebrating 60 years of transforming lives through education.

Professor Rama Thirunamachandran, Vice-Chancellor of Canterbury Christ Church University, said: “I would like to thank Lady Colgrain for her nomination for Canterbury Christ Church University to receive one of the special trees from the late Queen’s inspirational Queen’s Green Canopy project which celebrated her Platinum Jubilee. We are honoured to receive this special gift, not only because it is just one of eight to be given to the county, but it allows us to commemorate both the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and the University’s Diamond Jubilee, which was also celebrated last year.

“During our Diamond Jubilee we launched The Academy for Sustainable Futures, the University’s commitment to making a step-change to use education and research to support our local communities and change society for the better. Planting this tree today symbolises how sustainability is very much at the heart of our strategic vision for the future, as it was at the heart of The Queen’s Green Canopy project.”

Throughout 2022, its Diamond Jubilee year, the University celebrated its wonderful diverse community and what it means to be a sustainable university. Activities included:

• the launch of the Academy for Sustainable Futures
• planting over 400 saplings to create vital hedging around the new Verena Holmes STEM building as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy, to encourage more birds, insects and other wildlife onto campus
• creating an International Forest on the boarder of the University’s sport fields at Stodmarsh, with native tree saplings planted by the University’s International office, international student ambassadors and international students
• refurbishment of the land on the Canterbury campus to build a Jubilee Garden, creating an attractive and enjoyable space for staff and students.

Notes to editors

• The Tree of Trees sculpture was designed by Thomas Heatherwick.
• The sculpture sought to put the importance of trees and nature at the heart of the historic milestone to celebrate Her Majesty The Queen, who had planted over 1,500 trees all over the world throughout the course of her reign.