NIGEL OWENS CELEBRATES CARDIFF AS A QGC “CHAMPION CITY” AHEAD OF SIX NATIONS

With all eyes on Cardiff ahead of the Six Nations, The Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC) is proud to have the support of QGC Ambassador Nigel Owens as Cardiff is unveiled as the latest QGC “Champion City” through an urban greening project on Saturday, 12th February.

Working in partnership with Trees for Cities and Cardiff City Council, the QGC will bring together members of the local community to plant 1,200 Jubilee trees at Tremorfa Park in the ward of Splott, one of Cardiff’s most deprived areas with low tree canopy cover of 7.8% – well below the average of 18.9 % across the city.

The trees will contribute to Cardiff Council’s Coed Caerdydd initiative which aims to increase the city’s tree canopy cover to 25% by 2030, by planting 839 hectares of new trees.

The QGC’s “Champion Cities” programme has been launched to celebrate some of the nation’s outstanding cities which have trees as a central part of their plans for green space.

QGC Ambassador Nigel Owens MBE, said: “This weekend, tens of thousands of people will come together at Cardiff Stadium to witness an epic competition made possible when a simple green space gets transformed into a world stage.

Some of the most thrilling and memorable moments of my life have occurred in this environment – in the middle of two teams locked in fierce battle, with the crowd hanging on every kick and tackle.

A spiritual home for many, the pleasure of being part of a game hosted on a simple green field is immense. In my work and on my farm, I am fortunate to benefit from the calming influence of trees and nature, which always offer a welcome place to reflect on the important things in life.

On this Six Nations weekend, I am proud to be an Ambassador for The Queen’s Green Canopy who are hosting a special Jubilee tree planting event to celebrate Cardiff as a QGC “Champion City”. I would like to wish everyone well and can’t wait to see the result of your efforts!”

David Elliott, Chief Executive of Trees for Cities, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with The Queens Green Canopy and Cardiff City Council to bring the multiple benefits of urban trees to local communities in Cardiff. We look forward to working alongside local residents who are getting ‘stuck in’ to help the largest city in Wales reach its city-wide target of 25% canopy cover over the next ten years!

Through the partnership, we are encouraging local people to come together to plant a tree for the Jubilee as a legacy to Her Majesty’s service to the nation, while also delivering urban greening as part of Cardiff’s Coed Caerdydd initiative to make Cardiff a greener and healthier place to live!”

Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure, Cllr Peter Bradbury, said: “I’m delighted that Cardiff has been successful in achieving Champion City status under The Queen’s Green Canopy. It’s a brilliant recognition of what we’ve achieved over the past few years and our future green plans for the city.

Volunteers play a crucial part in the success of any event like this, and I’d like to thank everyone for their huge contribution. We’ve come to rely on our parks and green spaces over the past few years, and it’s very clear how important our outdoor spaces are.

These new trees in Splott will bring massive benefits to residents – boosting biodiversity, improving air quality and having a positive effect on health and well-being.”