Young people see commemorative designs brought to life
PR2486/MF/JB - 22/12/2022
Local children who helped to design a special woodland seat that commemorates the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II saw the finished bench for the first time earlier this week.
Ten-year-old Charlotte from Lindfield, six-year-old Eliza from Horsted Keynes and 12-year-old Maisie were the winners of Mid Sussex District Council’s ‘Design a woodland seat’ competition and visited Burgess Hill Shed on Tuesday 20 December to see the finished product. They were presented with a commemorative Jubilee coin and a certificate by MSDC Deputy Chairman Councillor Phillip Coote to mark their achievement.
The talented men and women at Burgess Hill Shed used the girl’s winning designs to create a beautiful bench that celebrates the milestone Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.
The bench features detailed scrolls on the arm rests to symbolise life, honour, and commemoration. National flower emblems of the Daffodil, Shamrock, Thistle, and Rose are displayed on ceramic plaques along the bench to show Queen Elizabeth II’s strong ties with the four UK nations, and the centrepiece is a crown and inscription to mark the Platinum Jubilee.
Stock seasoned timber was used to ensure the woodland seat is durable and the wood has been finished and treated to protect it from the elements.
The Platinum Jubilee bench will now be placed alongside 250 new trees Mid Sussex District Council has planted at Ashenground Woods Nature Reserve in Haywards Heath. The trees form part of The Queen’s Green Canopy, a network of individual trees, avenues, copses and whole woodlands that have been planted by people across the UK in honour of the Queen’s 70 years of service.
Councillor Phillip Coote, Deputy Chairman of Mid Sussex District Council said:
“This is a unique commemoration of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in this momentous year. It is hugely encouraging to see the ideas of these young people being brought to life in such a beautiful way by these skilled craftsmen at Burgess Hill Shed.”
Eric Palmer of Burgess Hill Shed commented:
“It was a privilege to have been involved in this project, along with our colleagues at The Kiln. Taking inspiration from the ideas of the young people gave us both a challenge and an opportunity to showcase skills in the creation of this one-of-a-kind bench.”