A Jubilee Tree Trail is coming to Ashford

Animate Arts Ltd have been commissioned to create ‘The Ashford Tree Trail – A Community Arts Project for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Year’ that will see a visual spectacle growing across Ashford town centre.

Collaboratively, the local community – selected schools, community groups and the general public – will work with artists from Animate Arts to make an installation of decorated trees that will form a physical trail for the Jubilee weekend.

Central to the trail will be the Jubilee Blossom Tree, which will be made entirely from paper and cardboard. Its branches will be adorned with hand-made paper blossom – each flower carrying hand-written messages of hope for 2022 and beyond from the public.

A free creative pack of ‘How to make a Trail Tree’ will also be designed and distributed to local groups and individuals to encourage them to decorate their own real trees or make trees that can be registered on a virtual map of The Ashford Tree Trail.

The aim is to encourage as many independently created trees as possible and to have at least 70 registered trees to appropriately mark Her Majesty the Queen’s 70-year reign.

Across all the trees, by artists, schools or those using the downloadable pack will be two central themes – The Queen and Green Planet. Decorations and artworks that adorn each tree will be made from recycled, repurposed materials, whilst the trees that have ‘grown’ a decoration scheme will represent the Queen’s achievements, passions and the iconic symbols throughout her reign. From Corgi Trees to Postage Stamp Trees to Commonwealth Trees, every tree will artistically celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee by design.

More information on the Ashford Tree Trail and how to get involved will be available later this spring 2022.

Are you an Ashford based Community Group?

The project is looking for community groups from the Ashford borough to be involved in the creation of The Ashford Tree Trail. In particular, connecting with community groups who engage with wellbeing/mental health provisions, older residents, youth, early years, or those with in rural settings. The community groups will take part in an artist-led making programme in April-May 2022 and will design and decorate a tree for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. The participating group will also display their tree on the trail from 2 June – 25 June 2022, either virtually or as part of the town centre’s public trail.

Are you an Ashford School?

Ashford Tree Trail needs schools from the Ashford borough to be involved too!  In particular, schools to take part in an artist-led making programme in April-May 2022 to design and decorate trees for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. The participating schools will also display their tree on the trail from 2 June – 25 June 2022, either virtually or as part of the town centre’s public trail.

Get involved by contacting  trees@animateartscompany.com

Central to the trail will be the Jubilee Blossom Tree, which will made entirely from paper and cardboard by professional artists at Animate Arts. Its branches will be adorned with seeded, paper blossom and each flower will carry a hand-written message of hope for 2022 and beyond. Blossom is the precursor to growing fruit so these symbolic, fruitful wishes will reap a good harvest for the future of HM Queen Elizabeth II and Ashford.

Throughout the programme and acuminating at The Beacon Event and Jubilee weekend, the artist team will invite the public to make blossom wishes for this tree as a collaborative town artwork. It will become the feature of the installation, and it is expected to be ‘planted’ in significant locations, including The Beacon Event (2 June), St Mary's Church for the Church Service (3 June), Memorial Gardens for the Albacore Ceremony (4 June) and Victoria Park at the Big Jubilee Lunch (5 June).

Animate Arts Company CIC is a national award-winning, not-for-profit arts company making high-quality participatory art projects, working creatively with people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds.

The artists at Animate Arts work with people of all ages, from early years, children and young people to families and whole communities. Through workshops in crafts to theatre to community art events they bringing people together through art projects and programmes.

In 2022 we also will be marking a special anniversary - our 20th anniversary year of delivering projects and bringing people together through our art experiences. One of our very first projects began in Ashford, and we have continued to work with many communities, schools and venues in the borough over the years.

For more information about Animate Arts Company visit the Animate Arts website.