Coronation tree planted in honour of King

The tree, a Royal Oak, is one of a number of coronation trees being planted in regions across the country to commemorate the coronation of His Majesty the King, Charles III last year.

The West Midlands tree has been planted in Coronation Gardens in Sedgley, which first opened in 1953 to commemorate the coronation of the late monarch.

The tree was planted today (February 27) by the Lord-Lieutenant of the West Midlands, Sir John Crabtree OBE and the Mayor of Dudley, Councillor Andrea Goddard.

Sir John Crabtree OBE, Lord-Lieutenant for the West Midlands, said:

It was a challenge to select just one location for a very special tree, but the Coronation Gardens seemed such an appropriate choice and it was a great privilege to follow the original opening in 1953 marking the Coronation of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Councillor Andrea Goddard, Mayor of Dudley, said:

It’s an honour that Dudley borough has been chosen as the location for the region’s coronation tree.

“I was delighted to join the Lord-Lieutenant today as we planted the tree in the historic gardens and bolstered its royal connections.

Councillor Damian Corfield, cabinet member for highways and environmental services, said:

The Dudley Council-run park is a fitting location to commemorate the coronation and reign of our new monarch decades after it was first opened and named in honour of the late Queen Elizabeth II.

“The tree will take pride of place in the park and be a lasting tribute to His Majesty the King for generations to come.

Compost made from floral tributes, which were laid by residents across the borough in memory of the late Queen Elizabeth II at the time of her passing, was placed in the ground where the tree was planted.

The tree has been funded by the Queen’s Green Canopy - a nationwide tree planting initiative created to mark Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s platinum jubilee in 2022.