Alison Rutland, Local Environment Officer for the Anglican Chaplaincy of Malta and Gozo, has sent us this encouraging report of a wonderful initiative which is proof of dedication and patience being rewarded! She writes;

'The Queen’s Green Canopy was an initiative supported by the then Prince Charles, now King Charles 3, celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022. Countries with a High Commission or Embassy were invited to join in this initiative.  The then Queen had lived in and loved the Maltese Islands. Tree planting fits perfectly with the Diocese in Europe Caring for Creation policy, and we are all working towards Carbon Zero 2030 in conjunction with A Rocha. We therefore thought it would be a lovely celebration to participate in. 

The Diocese in Europe originally published a report about the initiative in the Spring 2022 edition of the European Anglican magazine, and we are excited to announce that the project was finally inaugurated on Wednesday May 27th2026. 

Since its inception, the initiative has also proven to be a golden opportunity for ecumenical and community collaboration. It has been a funding collaboration between The Anglican Chaplaincy of Malta and Gozo, The English Speaking Catholic Community in Gozo, St Andrew’s Scots and Methodist Church in Valletta, The Rotary Club Gozo, The Janatha Stubbs Foundation Malta, Gozo Community Choir, Gharb Local Council, Church of the Visitation Gharb. A further income stream was from any Gozitan, Maltese and international residents of Malta and Gozo wishing to remember loved ones and friends no longer with us by planting trees in this place and we are delighted to now add the Diocese of Gozo. 

Unfortunately, the initiative took a lot longer than envisaged, with many problems needing to be overcome such as a new site and a different plan of planting. 

We may not have managed to come in on time to coincide with the Platinum Jubilee, but now we have a Queen Elizabeth 11 Memorial Woodland, part of the Queen’s Green Canopy Initiative in memory of this lady who was loved and respected and gave great service to her Country and the Commonwealth. 

At the opening ceremony, held at the ARB Centre in Gharb on Wednesday May 27th, the Deputy British High Commissioner reminded us that we did coincide with the Queen’s Centenary Celebrations! Those in attendance included: 

Mayor of Gharb, David Apap Agius 

Councillors of Gharb 

Archpriest of Gharb, Mgr Trevor Sultana 

Deputy British High Commissioner, Tristan Gilchrist 

H.E. Mark Causon, Malta Ambassador to Denmark (who lives in Gharb) 

The Bishop’s Delegate for Ecumenism, Mgr John Muscat 

Minister St Andrew’s Scots and Methodist Church, Rev Beata Thane 

Chancellor St Paul’s Pro Cathedral Valletta and Chaplain Our Lady and St George Anglican Congregation in Gozo, Rev Canon David Wright. 

Gozo Community Choir 

Many of the donors were also in attendance, and very positive comments made about the trees and location. 

My sincere thanks to the Gharb Mayor, Councillors, Archpriest, Parish and community of Gharb for supporting us.'

Photos from the day by Anna Dubik, partner of H.E. Mark Causon:

It is brilliant to be able to share such stories of chaplaincies working to care for creation.  We would love to hear from all who are doing so, whether small or large, every initiative counts.