England football legend Terry Butcher has joined a nationwide movement to plant trees in memory of the Queen, dedicating the shrub to the late monarch and of his war hero son.
The former Ipswich defender spoke of his pride at joining an initiative to plant one million trees to commemorate the life and service of Elizabeth II.
Butcher, capped 77 times by England, posed by the tree he planted as he emotionally opened up on his son Chris’ love of the army and the monarch, before he died in 2018 after serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Butcher found the 35-year-old Captain, who served with the Royal Artillery, dead in his room after he turned to drugs as he battled post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
An inquest in 2018 heard the “victim of war” suffered struggled with “guilt and shame” following tours of Iraq and Afghanistan.
Butcher said: “I am proud to plant a tree to honour Queen Elizabeth and in loving memory of my son Chris, who served her faithfully for over a decade at home and on operations abroad.
“He loved the Army, his Queen and his country, and he will never be forgotten by those of us who were lucky enough to have known him.
“This tree will stand tall in his memory as a symbol for personal reflection on his life.
“With my family, I look forward to seeing it grow into a strong and proud living memorial to him."
A nationwide initiative was last year created to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, marking 79 years on the throne.
The Queen’s Green Canopy was due to conclude in December - the end of the Jubilee year - but was extended to include this full tree planting season, beginning last October and concluding in this month.
Organisers said the extension of the QGC initiative will build on this legacy and serve as a lasting tribute to Her Majesty’s extraordinary service to her country and her people.
The interactive map created by The Queen’s Green Canopy to showcase the planting projects across the United Kingdom will also continue to the end of the month, giving people an opportunity to be part of the special legacy.
Alongside the inspiring floral tributes left outside Royal Palaces in the wake of the Queen’s passing last September, people can continue to gift a tree in memoriam in honour of Her Majesty, with trees to be planted in schools and deprived urban areas across the United Kingdom.
* For more information on how to get involved please visit www.queensgreencanopy.og
* To gift a tree in honour of Her Majesty please visit www.shop.queensgreencanopy.org/
