Angela joined over 500 other MPs to plant trees as part of the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy, a network of forest conservation initiatives to mark Her Majesty’s lifetime of service to the Commonwealth.

The trees – two silver birch, two rowan, and a hazel –were planted in green space off Meadowbank.

They were donated to Angela thanks to a partnership between the Woodland Trust, Sainsbury’s and ITV, which in April screened a landmark documentary, The Queen’s Green Planet, following Her Majesty the Queen and this ambitious legacy project which brings together her deeply held commitment to the Commonwealth and her little-known love of trees.

At the heart of the film was a conversation between the Queen and Sir David Attenborough filmed in the gardens of Buckingham Palace last summer.  In a rare opportunity to see the Queen talking informally to Sir David, the conversation ranged from climate change, to conkers and of course trees, and was watched by 6.4 million viewers, making it ITV’s most watched factual programme of the year.

In support of the programme the Woodland Trust provided 50,000 trees for ITV viewers, and via the Rt Hon Frank Field MP, who conceived the QCC initiative, also offered a special commemorative pack to every MP in the UK.

Angela, one of 508 MPs who took up the offer, said: “I am very passionate about my constituents having plenty of green and recreational space to enjoy so I was delighted to join in with this wonderful project. It was wet and windy on planting day but I was more than happy to muck in with the Woodland Trust volunteers and plant my five trees at Meadowbank. Hopefully, the area will be home to a beautiful woodland that local families can enjoy for years to come.”

Woodland Trust Chief Executive Beccy Speight added: “We are delighted so many MPs have decided to join us in our bid to plant trees as part of the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy.  We all need trees. They are a cornerstone of our landscape and countryside, forming an essential and cherished part of our cultural identity. They are crucial in improving soil health and water quality, reducing carbon, trapping pollutants, slowing the flow of flood water, and sheltering livestock, providing a home for wildlife or a space for us to breathe. I hope the residents of Ashton will enjoy watching them flourish as part of this wonderful legacy initiative.”