A CASH appeal has been launched in Winston to fund a new oak tree to pay tribute to Prince Philip who died in April.
The village already has two oak trees on its Millennium Green to mark the Queen’s gold and diamond jubilees.
Now the trust that runs the green hopes to raise about £400 for a tree to be planted in the autumn.
Trust chairman Graham Young said: “With Prince Philip dying people felt it was important to do something to recognise his life of service to the country and the queen. This is absolutely appropriate because he was an environmentalist. He was chairman of the WWF (World Wildlife Fund) for many years and later he was its president.”
The seven-and-a-half-acre site has proved invaluable for people in the village during lockdowns, providing a perfect space to exercise and get out in the fresh air. The green was created when villagers thought it would be a good idea to buy a field adjacent to the village from Durham County Council for £7,000 in the late 1990s.
John McBain, who served as a parish councillor at the time, said: “The parish council thought it was an excellent idea but didn’t want to do it as a parish council, so I thought I would push ahead with it.”
He added that it was only later decided to make it a Millennium Green after it was discovered that very few rural villages were getting involved in the scheme. Mr McBain said that it cost about £47,000 to clear the area and create pathways, walls and a kissing gate at the access.
Mr Young said: “It needs to be quite a substantial tree and we will need a metal guard because we have sheep in here.”
Any overflow cash from the public appeal would be used for the maintenance of the area.
