The photograph shows the widely used footpath in the foreground, leading from the A441 across to Botany Bay, which is lined with a variety of 225 saplings.
The pattern of the Union Flag has been mown into the grass meadow, using a mower set at different heights. The path has been created to form a walk around the meadow, and across the centre, for members of the public to enjoy. The footpath has disabled and wheelchair access on both the east and west sides.
Four fruit trees – a Cox’s Orange Pippin, a Braeburn and 2 Conference Pears – have been planted in the corner of the meadow, to form a small orchard, along with crocuses and daffodils along the paths. A 6ft oak tree has been planted in the centre of the field with a circular bench – a perfect place to take a rest and survey the meadow.
Following an extremely hot and dry summer some of the saplings planted in the early spring of 2022 were lost to the weather, but a further 150 trees from The Conservation Volunteers, have now been planted to replace the lost trees and to finish off the planting around the meadow’s perimeter.
With the assistance of local resident, Mr John Hughes, 4000 crocus bulbs were planted in conjunction with the Rotary Club, monies raised from the purchase of the bulbs will go towards a programme to eradicate Polio across the world. Mr Hughes has kindly sponsored the purchase of the bulbs himself, and organised for children from the Ridgeway school to visit the meadow to plant them to form the letters ELIZABETH II.
The ongoing work at Platinum Meadows is to commemorate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in June, and her sad passing on September 8th 2022.
The meadow is owned by Cookhill Parish Council and has been legally protected, to ensure that it remains for the enjoyment of parishioners and members of the public in perpetuity.
The Platinum Meadows Team is headed up by PC Chairman, Bob Pinfield, Allotment Association Chairman, David Claydon and local resident, John Hughes. The Parish Council would like to thank all the volunteers who have helped to make this project possible, and for the donation of the 6ft oak tree and the 250 Saplings from The Community Volunteers.
Plant a Tree for the Jubilee
The Queen’s Green Canopy
On a sunny Saturday in March 2022 the Parish Council got together with volunteers from the Cookhill Allotments to plant one hundred trees for the Jubilee.
The trees, supplied by The Conservation Volunteers and their initiative ‘I Dig Trees’, comprised of 32 English Oak, 20 Silver Birch, 18 Aspen, 10 Green Beech, 6 Common Alder, 6 Hornbeam, 4 Rowan and 4 Goat Willow.
The Conservation Volunteers say:
We are delighted to be running I Dig Trees for the seventh year during the 2021/2022 planting season with OVO Energy. This fantastic partnership programme goes from strength to strength and is a great opportunity for any community group or volunteer to join in, feel good and make a difference. By the end of this season, you will have helped to plant over 2 million trees!
The trees have been planted on Parish Council land behind Ridgeway Meadows, to create an avenue along the footpath leading from the Ridgeway to Botany Bay Nurseries, and will continue on around the edge of the field.
The Parish Council have big future plans for the meadow with further trees scheduled to be planted in the autumn. A small orchard in the centre of the field and some wildflowers to attract the bees will complete the vision.
The Parish Council would like to express their thanks to everyone who came out on that Saturday morning to help, to Paul Davis from SE Davis, who worked on the planting plan with Ragley Hall forestry experts and also The Conservation Volunteers for the trees, planting instructions and tree supports.