Royal jubilees have often been commemorated through our parks and gardens, statues and gates, tree planting and patriotic flower displays.
Local parks have played a central role in jubilee celebrations and the commemoration of royal jubilees for more than two hundred years. On the 4th June 2012, The Queen will light the first jubilee beacon in Wolverhampton's West Park, a grade II registered park dating from 1881.
To mark this significant event, we have produced 'Jubilee-ation!' a new publication that traces the history of Royal Jubilees in public parks from Victorian times up to the 21st-century.
Jubilee trees
There is a long tradition of commemorating royal jubilees by planting trees. The Royal Oak at English Heritage's Boscobel House, believed to be a descendent of the original oak, was planted to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria.
At Osborne House on the Isle of Wight, trees were planted to mark Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee and King George V's silver jubilee.
The Woodland Trust is marking the Queen's 2012 Diamond by planting 6 million trees, creating hundreds of Jubilee Woods and 60 exclusive Diamond Woods.
Local Tree Wardens will also be planting trees as a lasting legacy of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. The Tree Council web site has more information on these celebrations.
Inspired by the discovery of the Royal Record of King George VI's Coronation, which details thousands of celebration trees, the Woodland Trust is creating a new Record of trees planted in 2012 for the Diamond Jubilee.
There is also a short British Pathé film of Leeds schoolchildren planting trees at Woodhouse Moor to mark King George V's silver jubilee in 1935.
Jubilee Parks, Gardens and Plants
There are many gardens and parks with royal links. The Royal Horticultural Society provides ideas for celebration planting. A hunt through the RHS Plant Finder will indentify roses and other plants named for jubilees.
Fields in Trust are marking the 2012 Diamond Jubilee, Olympic and Paralymic Games and 2014 Commonwealth Games by permanently protecting 2012 outdoor recreational spaces. The Trust originates from the 471 King George V fields set up for 'outdoor games, sports and pastimes'.
The new Jubilee Greenway path links the London Olympic venues with some of the capital's best attractions including parks and gardens.
Jubilee Beacons
English Heritage supports the proposed lighting of beacons on 4 June 2012 to celebrate Her Majesty the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. To ensure that these beacons do not inadvertently damage important historic and natural features, we have worked jointly with Natural England to produce a very brief guide to help those who are organising events.
The guidance provides advice on checking whether proposed beacons will be on or near an historic site.
Jubilee Events at English Heritage's Gardens
Join in the Diamond Jubilee celebrations at Osborne House and Old Wardour Castle.
