The Chair of Cornwall Council has asked that only red, white and blue flowers are planted across Cornwall to help create a colourful tribute for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.

Pauline Giles said that she has asked the council and Cormac, the council owned company which looks after roads and verges, to only plant seeds of red, white and blue flowers in the lead up to the jubilee in June next year.

The council and Cormac has been planting wildflowers across Cornwall to help encourage habitats and pollinators but has not previously limited the colours used.

Cllr Giles said that she was also encouraging town and parish councils across Cornwall to get involved and would like residents to also take part to create a tribute to the Queen.

"It is the Queen's platinum jubilee next year, it is something that many of us will never experience again and I think we should be doing something to show the Queen how much we appreciate all that she has done for us and our country.

"I have asked the council and Cormac that when they are cutting the hedges and verges and planting new seeds that they only use red, white and blue flowers – they will spread and be ready for the jubilee.

"Next year they will be in full bloom, hopefully. We want it to look fabulous and want the whole of Cornwall to be part of this."

Cllr Giles, who is Conservative councillor for St Blazey, said she was also encouraging councillors to use money in their community chest to buy seeds for red, white and blue flowers to be planted in their local area.

She added: "It is hopefully going to be something quite jaw dropping. People coming over the Tamar will see how proud we are of the Queen. She is an amazing person and I think this would be a fitting tribute."

The council chairman, who was awarded the British Empire Medal in the Queen's birthday honours list earlier this year, said that she wouldn't class herself as a monarchist but was proud of the Queen and Royal family.

She said: "I wouldn't buy a teapot with the Queen on it but I do think, especially the Queen, is important and we should all be proud of what she has done. When I saw her at the funeral of Prince Philip I said how much I respected her and how I would like to meet her.

"Then when I got the honour and we had the G7 come to Cornwall and I was able to meet her in St Austell when she came off the train – she congratulated me on having my honour and it was one of the greatest moments of my life.

"I think we should say thank you to her for all she has done for us – hopefully these flowers will be seen all over the country and if she sees them she will think 'they have done me proud'."

Cllr Giles said she had spoken to mayors across Cornwall who had offered support for the idea of planting just red, white and blue flowers and said that fellow Cornwall councillors were also backing the plans.

She added: "The council is putting these seeds in now, so it is time critical that we start doing this. What I would like to see is the public getting behind this as well – we want people to do a bit of wilding. We want to promote wildflowers on verges or on the edge of gardens which will encourage wildflowers and bees.

"It is a win-win idea and I am hoping we will be able to show how much Cornwall appreciates the Queen."