Earlier this year I launched a competition for Primary Schools across my Aldridge-Brownhills constituency to celebrate the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy initiative.
The Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy is a unique initiative across 53 Commonwealth countries to save one of the world’s most important natural habitats – our forests. It uses the Commonwealth network to share knowledge and best practice for forest conservation, whilst creating a physical and lasting legacy in recognition of The Queen’s leadership of the Commonwealth.
To promote the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy initiative I invited entries from local Primary Schools to win a special tree donated by the Woodland Trust. The competition asked schools to design a plaque for a tree to celebrate either the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy, our environment or our local area.
I was delighted to receive more than 80 entries from local schools and I invited West Midlands Lord-Lieutenant John Crabtree OBE along with the Mayor and Mayoress of Walsall, Councillor Marco and Mrs Andrea Longhi, to assist with the judging. It was not an easy task!
There was extremely strong competition amongst all of the entrants with a magnificent range of creative and imaginative drawings covering a wide range of themes dedicated to saving our planet and protecting our natural environment.
As well as the winning school receiving the Commonwealth Tree, their design will be transformed into a special greetings card that will be sent to HM The Queen to celebrate the importance of her Commonwealth Canopy Initiative.
I would like to thank everyone who submitted an entry to my competition.