Community arts project - The Ashford Tree Trail to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee
Published: 28/02/2022
Animate Arts Ltd has been commissioned to create ‘The Ashford Tree Trail - a community arts project for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Year’ that will see a visual spectacle growing across Ashford town centre.
Collaboratively, the local community – selected schools, community groups and the general public - will work with artists from Animate Arts to make an installation of decorated trees that will form a physical trail for the Jubilee weekend.
Central to the trail will be the Jubilee Blossom Tree, which will be made entirely from paper and cardboard. Its branches will be adorned with hand-made paper blossom - each flower carrying hand-written messages of hope for 2022 and beyond from the public.
A free creative pack of ‘How to make a Trail Tree’ will also be designed and distributed to local groups and individuals to encourage them to decorate their own real trees or make trees that can be registered on a virtual map of The Ashford Tree Trail.
The aim is to have as many independently created trees as possible and to have at least 70 registered trees to appropriately mark Her Majesty the Queen’s 70-year reign.
Across all the trees, by artists, schools or those using the downloadable pack will be two central themes – The Queen and Green Planet. Decorations and artworks that adorn each tree will be made from recycled, repurposed materials, whilst the trees that have ‘grown’ a decoration scheme will represent the Queen’s achievements, passions and the iconic symbols throughout her reign. From Corgi Trees to Postage Stamp Trees to Commonwealth Trees, every tree will artistically celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee by design.
Trees in themselves are, as we know, a symbol of life, benefiting communities and the environment, but they also have important significance for Her Majesty the Queen.
Trees have been planted at different milestones of her reign – from the planting of Sandringham’s Royal Fruit Orchard in 1953 the year of her coronation to the national Queen’s Green Canopy Project taking place in 2022.
Jo Dyer, Artist Director of Animate Arts Ltd said “The Animate Arts team and myself are absolutely thrilled to be commissioned on this very special occasion.
“As Her Majesty marks her 70 years in reign in 2022, we are also marking our 20th anniversary of delivering community art projects in Ashford and across Kent – so it feels a really fitting project.
“Over the Jubilee weekend, we will be growing a spectacular creative trail of decorated trees in Ashford, all hand-crafted by local residents, schools and professional artists, to celebrate the achievements of our Queen. We cannot wait to start!”
Cllr Matthew Forest, Portfolio Holder for Culture, Tourism and Leisure, said “I am pleased to welcome Jo and the Animate Arts team back as they deliver this community project to celebrate and mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.
“The project is an exciting opportunity that will encourage local residents to craft trees and decorations or simply enjoy the tree trail itself in Ashford Town Centre.”
More information on the Ashford Tree Trail and how to get involved will be available online and promoted on social media later this spring 2022.
