Coronation arch to become part of the Windsor landscape

A WILLOW arch created to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Queen's coronation has become a permanent part of the Windsor landscape.

It was formally unveiled at its new home in Alexandra Gardens on Tuesday at a special rose planting ceremony.

The arch was originally one of six exhibited in front of Windsor Castle on the Long Walk last autumn to commemorate the coronation.

The arches were later removed and sold off to raise money for the Royal Windsor Rose and Horticultural Society's coronation bursary, which will sponsor a young person through horticultural college every year for the next six decades.

The Royal Borough bought one of the willow arches and it has stood proudly at Alexandra Gardens since November, before getting its final 'seal of approval' on the site this week.

Sally Macfadyen, the wife of the governor and constable of Windsor Castle  joined Susann Laughton - who was the project manager behind the original 'six arch' display - in planting 22 roses round the arch.

Susann said: "We hope these will grow up all around it over the years to complete the picture."

Also present was the castle governor Ian Macfadyen, Royal Borough councillor Eileen Quick and Royal Windsor Rose and Horticultural Society (RWRHS) chairman Andrew Try.

Moving the arch to its new site to the site was quite a challenge.

The 4.5-metre arch had to be split in two and master willow weaver Spencer Jenkins then weaved it back together.