THE only good thing to come out of the Queen’s anniversary are the thousands of trees she has encouraged other people to plant and pay for.

Even the thousands of trees planted in her name weren’t enough for her and some of her sycophantic supporters.

The National Trust has decided to dedicate 70 of the most famous trees growing on National Trust properties to the Queen even though many of those trees were already dedicated to other notable people who have contributed far more to our national life than Queen Liz.

One such tree is the over three centuries old sycamore at Tolpuddle in Dorset. In 1833 six agricultural labourers met at this sycamore tree to discuss their poor wages and living conditions.

The men were arrested in 1834 for swearing a secret oath as part of the formation of a union. Later they became known as the Tolpuddle Martyrs.

Moves to dedicate the Tolpuddle Martyrs’ tree to the Queen have been criticised by local residents, descendants of the martyrs and by many trade unionists and socialists.

The Martyrs were convicted of swearing a secret oath and sentenced to penal transportation in Australia, though this was overturned three years later due to a massive public outcry.

Janet Johnson, who lives in one of the Martyrs’ cottages in Tolpuddle, told us: "I think it most insensitive and an insult to their memory that the Martyrs’ Tree should be dedicated to the Queen on her Platinum Jubilee.

“It was parliamentarians and their friends, including royalty, who were responsible for the conviction and transportation of the Tolpuddle men for swearing an illegal oath.”

Descendant of one of the martyrs Susan Standfield said: “The tree honours my ancestors’ and all labourers’ hardship in this country but the use of it for the Jubilee doesn’t address that, which I would think will come across as insensitive.”

The sycamore tree is part of an initiative to dedicate a national network of 70 ancient trees or woodland for every one of the Queen’s 70 years on the throne. It is a pity they couldn’t do that without taking away dedications to national heroes like the men of Tolpuddle.