Strictly star Karen Hauer branches out by helping Wandsworth students doing Duke of Edinburgh Award

She might not be as recognisable without the sequined salsa outfit and sparkling smile.

But that’s because Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer Karen Hauer has been getting her hands dirty to help out Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) Award students.

She was at Burnwood School, Burntwood Lane, Wandsworth, to help them “plant a tree for the Jubilee”.

Karen met with 15 students who are currently doing, or have done, their DofE to help them plant a bay tree in the school’s grounds.

The award scheme, through which pupils do voluntary work, developing skills and fitness and going on expedition, has been announced as an official “Friend” of The Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC), created to mark The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022.

The QGC encourages people all over the UK to play their part to enhance the environment and make their local areas greener by planting trees in celebration of Her Majesty’s 70 years on the throne.

The DofE is inviting its hundreds of thousands of participants to get involved and make a positive impact by planting a tree in their community.

Karen said: “I’m thrilled to visit Burntwood School to launch an exciting partnership between The Queen’s Green Canopy and the DofE.

“These two special Royal charities are joining forces to inspire the country to get involved in the campaign to “plant a tree for the Jubilee”.

“Planting a tree is something we can all do to celebrate The Queen’s 70 years of service and also help the environment.

The Queen is amazing and planting trees is a lovely way to mark this special occasion.

“I was inspired to meet young people from Burntwood who are doing their DofE. I had fun planting a Jubilee tree with the help of these fantastic young people. I know they will go on to great things!” #

The DofE’s CEO Ruth Marvel said: “We know that young people doing their DofE are passionate about taking action to protect our environment and contributing to a greener world.

“The Queens Green Canopy gives us all a chance to make a positive sustainable change in our community.

If just some of our amazing participants, volunteers, supporters and staff all over the UK decide to get involved, together we could make a huge difference and leave a lasting legacy.”

Dan Rex, CEO, The Queen’s Green Canopy, said: “We are delighted to announce the DofE as a ‘Friend’ of The Queen’s Green Canopy.

Young people are key to creating a sustainable future and with the involvement of the DofE we look forward to encouraging as many people as possible to plant trees across the UK in support of Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee.”

The QGC is encouraging tree planting during the official planting season, which is from October to March. Tree planting will commence again when the tree planting season starts in October 2022, through to the end of the Jubilee year.

All Jubilee trees can be uploaded to the interactive QGC Map which will create a digital record of the green canopy of tree planting projects growing across the nation.

Pictured: Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer Karen Hauer during her visit to Burnwood School, Wandsworth