TWO trees in Worcestershire and Herefordshire have been singled out by a national conservation council to mark the Queen's Golden Jubilee.

A Spanish Chestnut at Croft Castle, Herefordshire, and The Bewdley Sweet Chestnut, in Bewdley, are part of 50 trees throughout Great Britain to form a tribute to the Queen.

Volunteers from the National Grid Tree Warden Scheme nominated their favourite large, ancient or rare trees, which was eventually whittled down to 50 by the Tree Council, one for every year of the Queen's reign.

"In preparing this tribute to the Queen, our aim was to turn a spotlight on to our living heritage - to ensure that special trees are not lost through ignorance of their worth," said Jon Stokes, the Tree Council's director of community projects.

"Some trees are as important to our heritage as the great stately homes and castles.

"There are yews, for example, that could be as old as Stonehenge and oaks that have probably been around since before the Norman Conquest, yet special trees like these are not valued as highly as historic buildings."

He urged people to visit the trees throughout Great Britain that had been singled out to mark the Golden Jubilee.

The Spanish Chestnut at Croft Castle forms part of a famous avenue, which, according to legend, was planted from nuts salvaged from the Spanish Armada in 1592.

The Bewdley tree spreads over a quarter-of-an-acre in the grounds of Kateshill House, once part of Tickenhall Manor, which was the home of Prince Arthur, Prince of Wales, son of Henry VII.

The Tree Council will present the custodians of the 50 trees, which range from the National Trust to local authorities to the Forestry Commission, with certificates and commemorative plaques to place near the trees.