The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

This occasion marks 70 years on the throne and offers up exciting opportunities for residents in the Braintree district to celebrate both the extended bank holiday (2 to 5 June 2022) and in the run up to it.

We are working towards a number of projects that will enable the community to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee and provide a legacy for future generations.

Events in the Braintree district

A list of events and activities happening across the Braintree district is available on Visit Braintree District. You can list your own celebrations on their website.

Beacon-lighting ceremonies

Various beacon lighting ceremonies will take place across the district on the evening of Thursday 2 June 2022.

A beacon-lighting ceremony will take place at the playing field car park in Church Road, Gosfield at 9.45pm on Thursday 2nd June alongside our Chairman and Gosfield Parish Council.

If parish councils and community groups are planning a ceremony, email us and we can add it to our events web page and provide support where needed.

Decorate your business window! 

We are encouraging local businesses across Braintree, Halstead and Witham town centres to decorate their windows in the build up to the Jubilee weekend, as a way of celebrating the district’s local high streets.

Share your photos with us via Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and we will be showcasing the best ones and encouraging residents to visit!

High Street Safari

Three exciting family trails are running across the Braintree district to celebrate the Jubilee. 

We have partnered with High Street Safari to bring these fun, engaging trails to Braintree, Witham and Halstead town centres to help primary-aged children learn about the Jubilee in a fun and interactive way.

Families can visit the High Street Safari website to locate the first story points for each of the trails where they will find a board showing a Jubilee character and a QR to scan for further information.

There are seven steps on each trail, and they take you right through our town centres. They are free and run until 12 June. 

Street market

A Jubilee-themed street market will take place on Saturday 28 May 2022 with a variety of food, craft, homeware and drink stalls lining Braintree town centre.

You can find out more about the street markets on the Visit Braintree District website or their Instagram page.

Commemorative benches

We will be installing 3 new benches in Weaver’s Park in Braintree, Halstead Public Gardens and Witham Town Park to mark the occasion. These will be installed in time for the Jubilee celebrations in June.

The Queen’s Green Canopy

As part of our commitment to help the environment and make local areas greener, we have provided 18,600 native trees and 73,000 bulbs to individuals and community groups to plant in their communities as part of our community tree and bulb planting project.

We have planted trees in Braintree, Witham and Halstead for the Queen in her Platinum Jubilee year, creating a legacy in honour of the Queen’s leadership of the nation for future generations.

Summer bedding will be planted in the public gardens in each town in the district in red, white and blue in late May.

Hanging baskets in Braintree town centre and outside Causeway House will be brightened up with a mix of purple and platinum during the Jubilee weekend.

Dementia Friendly Jubilee celebration lunch

Braintree Town Hall is holding a Dementia Friendly Jubilee celebration lunch on Monday 30 May 2022, where residents can enjoy a variety of sandwiches, savouries, cakes and drinks on offer and joined by classical singer Steph Felpon.

Planning an event or street party?

Street parties are a great opportunity for communities to come together on national occasions. They're usually organised by groups of residents who get together and make arrangements to celebrate with their neighbours.

View our street party guide for practical information, tips and inspiration to hold your own street party. 

A Platinum Jubilee celebration toolkit is available with lots of useful items that will support any event including download and print bunting, recipes from well-known celebrities and a Spotify playlist.

After Party waste tips 

Consider the environment and where possible save and re-use your bunting, banners, fancy dress, foil platters, picnic cutlery and crockery for another occasion!  

Please use up leftover food instead of throwing it away.  Share with neighbours and friends, freeze what you can, or donate to a local community fridge. Love Food Hate Waste has some great tips.

Remember that any food that needs to be chilled shouldn’t be left out of the fridge for more than four hours.

Check out the Food Standards Agency’s tips and guidance on making sure food is safe to eat at your party.

What goes where:

Clear Recycling Sacks

• Clean dry paper plates, cups, paper tablecloths – no food contamination
• Clean plastic tubs, food tray containers, plastic bottles (squash and leave lids on)
• Clean tin foil, tins and cans

Glass Recycling Bank

• All glass bottles and jars should be taken to your local bottle bank – rinse and leave lids on

Grey Bin

• Dirty or greasy plates, cups, paper tablecloths
• Balloons
• Paper napkins
• Party poppers and confetti
• Bunting (if not able to be reused)
• Artificial flowers (if not able to reuse)
• Plastic/disposable cutlery

Food Bin

• All food waste that cannot be used up for leftovers nor eaten. No packaging or plastic of any kind
• Please use up leftover food instead of throwing it away.  Share with neighbours and friends, freeze what you can, or donate to a local community fridge

Green Bin

• Flowers and plants – no artificial ones please! 

Supermarkets

• Soft plastics such as crisp packets, cling film, snack wrappers and film lids can now be taken to most major supermarkets who have their own collection facilities

Changes to your collection dates

Collection dates change over the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. Please check your calendar or download it now, or you can quickly look at your revised dates on our website.