World record holder and four-time London Marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge will plant a tree in honour of Her Majesty for The Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC) and launch the London Marathon’s Living Hall of Fame on Saturday 1 October – the start of the UK’s official planting season.

As part of an event that will once again bring people from all walks of life together in London, the tree symbolises the inspiring community spirit that exists at the heart of the marathon and within the QGC, which has planted more than a million trees across the UK in Her Majesty’s name.

Whether people are running or cheering or watching at home, trees form a magnificent backdrop along the route of the marathon, working silently behind the scenes to filter the air, provide shade and shelter for wildlife, and enhance London’s stunning landscape. 

As well as honouring The Queen, this tree marks the launch of the London Marathon’s Living Hall of Fame, which over the next decade will see a tree planted for every London Marathon champion since 1981 (there have been 117 men, women, wheelchair and ambulant champions to date) at different locations along the famous route.

Kipchoge will plant a flowering cherry tree on Blackheath Avenue in Greenwich Park, close to the famous start of the London Marathon, accompanied by Colonel Dan Rex (CEO of The Queen’s Green Canopy) and Graham Dear (The Royal Parks) with Head Gardener Tom Brown and Grounds Supervisor Robert Search.

Kipchoge, world record holder and London Marathon champion in 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019, said: “For me trees represent life and legacy. I would like this world to be a running world and a green world. Therefore it is a great honour to plant this tree in the London Marathon Living Hall of Fame, especially since this is the first tree in the new planting season for The Queen’s Green Canopy. It is a wonderful way to remember my four victories in London and I hope to visit this tree every time I return to London in future.”

Hugh Brasher, Event Director of London Marathon Events, said: “The Living Hall of Fame will celebrate every man and woman who has won a London Marathon title since our first race back in 1981. Our aim is to plant more than 150 trees at different locations on the route by the time of our 50th race in 2030. We are honoured that this first tree in our Living Hall of Fame is the first to be planted in the new planting season for The Queen’s Green Canopy.”

Colonel Rex said: “The Queen’s Green Canopy is proud to mark the start of the official planting season with a special tree to honour Her Majesty as part of the London Marathon Living Hall of Fame. We hope many people across the UK will join us as we continue to honour and celebrate the life of Her Majesty through the living legacy of planting trees.”

Dear said: “Greenwich Park, one of London’s eight Royal Parks, has proudly hosted the start of the London Marathon since its inception in 1981. The planting of a flowering cherry tree ‘Pink Perfection’ on the marathon route in the park is a fitting way to celebrate the London Marathon Living Hall of Fame in partnership with The Queens Green Canopy.”

London Marathon Events (LME) is working to drive positive change in environmental sustainability through its actions and to inspire stakeholders and partners to do the same.

LME has introduced a carbon levy for international participants in the TCS London Marathon and partnered with the organisation Climate Impact Partners to use the levy to fund a community-based tree planting initiative in Kenya, which combines carbon sequestration with sustainable development. To find out more, click here.