Very special tree is gifted to the people of Bothwell to honour Her Majesty the Queen

It was one of 350 saplings that made up the Tree of Trees, a giant sculpture constructed at Buckingham Palace to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee earlier this year.

The sculpture was dismantled and the young trees sent to organisations throughout the UK.

Lady Susan Haughey CBE, the Lord Lieutenant for Lanarkshire, dug in to plant the sapling at Bothwell's Jubilee Garden this week.

The Queen's Green Canopy project encourages communities across the UK to plant trees.

Lady Haughey said: "I hope this project inspires a new generation of tree planters."

A Bothwell group aims to plant 2,000 trees in the area.

Harry Marsh, leader of Bothwell Green Canopy Initiative, said: "We have identified 15 areas where trees could be planted, We have a campaign group with lots of volunteers and planted our first 400 trees last winter. However, in recent months we have found a major hurdle is convincing the public that tree planting is good for the planet and getting permission from landowners."

A spokesman for the Queen's Green Canopy said: "As a centrepiece of Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee weekend celebrations, the Tree stood tall as a message of hope, regeneration and optimism to our nation and the world.

"The living sculpture put the importance of trees at the heart of the historic milestone to celebrate the Queen who planted more than 1,500 trees throughout the world during her 70-year reign.

"We are pleased to gift this special tree set in a pot embossed with Her Majesty’s cypher in recognition of the vital contribution the group makes to the Bothwell community, and as a symbol of a greener environment for the future in the United Kingdom."We hope this tree, in the Queen’s name, will serve as inspiration for tree planting within the community and encourage care for the trees which already exist as part of our nation’s stunning landscape. They aim to create a legacy to honour Her Majesty’s extraordinary service.”