An extended bank holiday weekend is approaching to mark 70 years of the Queen’s reign.

To celebrate this unprecedented anniversary, events and initiatives within our community, as well as nationally, have been taking place throughout the year.  This is culminating in the holiday from Thursday 2 to Sunday 5 June which provides an opportunity for communities to come together to celebrate this historic milestone.

You may have already seen posters in your local community or received an invitation through the post notifying you of an event in your area.  You can also discover events taking place near you on the Platinum Jubilee Map and also submit details if you are hosting your own event.

Town and Parish councils across Central Bedfordshire have events planned, including Houghton Regis which is holding a free Jubilee and Beacon Lighting event for the community, a Jubilee Laser show in Flitwick, a Firework display in Leighton-Linslade and a Big Jubilee Picnic in Barton-Le-Clay.

Across the country, trees have also been planted as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC).  I was delighted to join a tree planting event at Jubilee Wood in Biggleswade led by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire, Helen Nellis, last October. The idea is to increase and protect the native tree cover and create this ‘special gift’ for the Queen.

The Council has held several tree giveaways and the response was fantastic. Hawthorn, birch, and maple field trees were handed out; over 16,000 trees have been planted and over 1,000 metres of hedgerow across Central Bedfordshire.

If you want to get involved, it’s not too late.  In line with the tree planting season, the Council are going to be giving more trees away in the Autumn.

I wish you all a relaxing Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend.