A COMPETITION to design a poster for an upcoming tree festival received a tree-mendous number of entries.

Welwyn Hatfield Council joined forces with Panshanger Primary School in Welwyn Garden City to promote the borough’s inaugural Jubilee Tree Festival, which takes place in September.

Year groups from reception through to Year 6 all took part, and around 200 entries were submitted.

Cllr Mandy Perkins, executive member for planning and business, chose winners from each year group, as well as an overall champion.

She visited the school, in Daniells, before the end of term to dish out prizes to the winners.

They were Luke Hornsey, five; Vignesh Rajiv, six; eight-year-old Emily Nicholson; Rory Satterley-Hull, Katie Veasey and Jessica French, all 10; and Anna Fuller, 11.

The overall winner, nine-year-old Alice Lilley, received a year’s subscription to the Woodland Trust’s Nature Detectives.

The Jubilee Tree Festival – the first of its kind in the borough – is being staged on Saturday, September 15 from 11am to 4pm on The Campus, WGC.

Hosted by Welwyn Hatfield’s tree wardens, it will include a range of different activities, including:

* a tree planting demonstration and advice for successful tree cultivation.

* a tree climbing demonstration by the council’s tree contractor Gristwood and Toms.

* guided tree walks around The Campus.

* information stands from local nature reserves, Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust, wood wardens and tree wardens.

* wood product stands and craft stalls.

* nature themed children’s activities.

The day will then be rounded off with mayor Helen Bromley planting a tree to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.