The broadcaster and the late monarch shared a strong rapport.
Not long ago, David Attenborough was strolling around Buckingham Palace’s gardens with Queen Elizabeth II, admiring the ancient trees.
Now, the broadcaster has planted an English oak in the late monarch’s memory, noting fondly as he did so that she was a “great lover of trees”.
The 96-year-old naturalist and TV host dedicated a new four-acre Platinum Jubilee woodland in Richmond Park, one of London’s eight Royal Parks.
He chose the English oak himself, one of the final few to be planted as part of The Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC) initiative, because he had a strong rapport with the late Queen.
‘A fitting tribute
He was “thrilled” to be opening the woodland to honor his late friend’s life of service, he said.
“The late Queen was a great lover of trees and the Royal Parks, so this is a fitting tribute to her memory,” he said.
“Its creation also marks the continuing conservation of this protected landscape, and the wonderful wildlife within, so that it can be enjoyed by many generations to come.
“The Queen’s Green Canopy has established a priceless national legacy for our children, future generations, and the planet itself.”
The nationwide Plant a Tree for the Jubilee project, which ends on March 31, has resulted in the planting of over a million new trees in the Queen’s name to commemorate her reign and leave a lasting environmental legacy.
It was extended beyond the end of the jubilee year at the request of the King to allow people to plant trees in memory of his mother, who died last September.
One for each year of the late Queen’s reign
The oak is one of 70 new young broadleaved trees planted in the new woodland, one for each year of the late Queen’s reign, joining Dutch elm disease-resistant elms, small-leaved limes, and sweet chestnuts.
The larger canopy trees have been complemented by smaller native trees and hedges such as hawthorn, blackthorn, hazel, elder, and dogwood, and have been planted around a focal point that will later incorporate a seating area for rest and reflection.
It is hoped that it will provide a new habitat for wildlife such as the endangered white-letter hairstreak butterfly and cardinal click beetle.
Sir David was born the same year as the late monarch, just days apart.
To commemorate the launch of the QGC project, the pair appeared together in the 2018 ITV documentary The Queen’s Green Planet.
Both then aged 91, they discussed the late Queen spotted a young sapling bent over and quipped: “That one we won’t look at because it doesn’t seem to be doing very well.
“Are you sure that’s how it’s supposed to be?” She inquired off camera, adding, “someone sat on it, I believe, at the garden party.”
The Queen led the way through the 40-acre gardens, telling the story of some of the trees planted by family members or for her children.