AN English oak tree has been planted on protected land next to Hinkley Point B nuclear power station to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

The sapling was planted next to Pixie’s Mound, a small patch of land to the east of the power plant and next to the Hinkley Point C site as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy celebration.

The Green Canopy initiative was created as part of celebrations to mark this year’s 70th anniversary of the Queen’s reign and invites people from across the United Kingdom to ‘Plant a Tree for the Jubilee’.

Hinkley B station director Mike Davies said: “When we heard about the Queen’s Green Canopy initiative we really wanted to be involved and do our bit as a station to mark the anniversary.

“Oak trees when mature provide habitat for a vast array of wildlife. Oaks are also thought to support more life than any other native tree in the UK.”

Mr Davies said 2022 was also a milestone year for Hinkley B because the station’s reactors will go offline for the final time in July.

The shutdown would bring to an end more than 46 years of zero carbon electricity generation.

“We are marking that milestone in a number of ways over the coming months but taking the time to plant this tree to also mark Her Majesty’s significant contribution to the UK over the past 70 years felt appropriate,” said Mr Davies.

EDF chief executive Simone Rossi, EDF chief nuclear officer John Munro and Mr Davies planted the tree.

Siôn Roberts and Matthew Peaster, of land management company Freedom, also attended the event.