Ten new native coppice trees have been planted by Thatchers Cider as part of the Queen's Green Canopy campaign to mark Her Majesty's Platinum Jubilee.

Martin Thatcher and his daughter Eleanor Thatcher planted the trees, which are accompanied by a commemorative plaque, alongside the popular Strawberry Line and adjacent to the family run cider mill at Myrtle Farm in Sandford.

The trees that have been planted are all native trees, Field Maple, English Oak and Cherry, and will be a valuable part of a new coppice woodland that is also being planted close by.

Martin Thatcher, fourth generation of the independent cider maker says,

"We love planting trees, so when we heard about the Queens Green Canopy campaign, we really wanted to support it with a row of trees that will be close to The Strawberry Line, so that passers by are able to see and enjoy them.

"We're delighted to Plant A Tree for the Jubilee" celebrating 70 years of service by Her Majesty."

Planting trees comes as second nature to the Somerset cider maker. It has over 500 acres of orchard in Somerset, having planted over 158,000 apple trees since 2019.

The cider maker has also recently launched its Community Orchard Project 2022, where it is inviting community groups to apply for up to ten trees each for their own orchards.

"We have 250 apple trees to give to community groups and have already had had an amazing response," continues Martin. "I hope that all of the groups who receive these apple trees will add them to the Queens Green Canopy campaign, which is such a special way to mark this year's Jubilee.

"Trees and orchards play such an important part within our communities, not just from an environmental perspective, but offering a peaceful haven which can often be hard to find in today's fast pace of life."