A NEW forest nearly as big as Disneyland is to be planted near Evesham.

The huge new woodland is being planted to mark the Queen's platinum jubilee in 2022.

The council has plans for the 150-acre site near the town, as well as a smaller 10-acre site near Bewdley.

When finished, the forest would be roughly nine tenths the size of the public areas of Disneyland in Florida, which is 160 acres in size.

The initiative is part of The Queen's Green Canopy, a UK-wide tree planting project aimed at creating a living legacy for the monarch's service to the nation.

Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire, Lt Col. Patrick Holcroft, has urged businesses, homes and schools to get involved and plant anything from single trees to whole forests.

He said: "I hope that everyone who can, will plant a tree in honour of The Queen and help to build a legacy for Worcestershire."

The Lieutenancy and Worcestershire County Council began work on this project at the end of 2019, and WCC has already identified two sites and began planting on its 10-acre site at Bewdley in the Autumn of 2020.

The council did not say exactly where the Evesham site is, only that it has been identified and that planning is now underway.

Schools and community groups are particularly encouraged to become involved.

The QGC has partnered with the Woodland Trust’s "Free Trees for Schools and Communities" scheme and has offered over three million saplings, available nationally on a ‘first come first served’ basis.

To access the scheme, go to www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/plant-trees/schools-and-communities/

In addition, a fund administered by the Worcestershire Community Foundation has also been established to invite donations to support the purchase of additional trees.

To donate to Worcestershire's Green Canopy, go to www.justgiving.com/campaign/worcestershire-green-canopy