It is fantastic to see ten Japanese cherry blossom trees being planted in New Street Park, Daventry, as a symbol of the longstanding friendship between Japan and the UK.
The trees were kindly donated by numerous Japanese businesses and individuals through the Sakura Cherry Tree Planting Project which aims to plant 6,500 trees across the UK, following a joint declaration of friendship made by the Japanese and British Prime Ministers in 2017.
The ten trees were planted on Thursday 18 March 2021 by Cllr. Lynne Taylor, Daventry Mayor and Paul Parsons, the High Sheriff of Northamptonshire, who gave a speech in a very low-key, Covid-friendly ceremony to recognise the significance of these trees.
My team and I co-operated with the Sakura Cherry Tree Project to divide these beautiful trees up across the constituency, so keep an eye out in Barby, Brixworth, Long Buckby and Spratton too!
I would like to thank the Sakura Cherry Tree Project for this wonderful gift, and all the volunteers who helped plant the trees. I look forward to seeing our green spaces brightened up by cherry blossom for years to come!
You can watch the planting ceremony here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4p-ZhYbaE5E