The aim of the Woodland Trust’s First World War centenary woods project is to create 4 centenary woods, one in each of the 4 home nations, where thousands of trees will be planted. Many of these will be dedicated by the public in honour of their ancestors who fought in the Great War, and those who were affected.
The determined cadets are aiming to raise more than £1 million through fundraising for the ambitious project which will span the 4 years of the war centenary.
Chief Executive of the Woodland Trust, Beccy Speight, said:
This is going to be a wonderful event and we are delighted that more than 40 army and air cadets will gather and thousands more are backing us on this project with such a challenging fundraising goal.
As we know, families up and down the country were affected by the First World War and what better way is there to mark that than by planting a tree to give a lasting and growing legacy for those who lost their lives or were affected?
Trees will be planted in the 4 home nations at the following locations:
- England – Langley Vale, near Epsom, Surrey
- Wales – Carway, Carmarthenshire
- Northern Ireland – Brackfield, County Londonderry
- Scotland – Pentland Hills, near Edinburgh
The Woodland Trust Scotland is working in partnership with the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) to create Scotland’s First World War centenary wood on the MOD training estate at Dreghorn.
Forty hectares of native woodland will extend and buffer existing woods used by soldiers for training. In time, the new woodland will be used by troops on exercises at the training area. DIO is the Ministry of Defence’s property and services provider, and manages the military training estate.
More information on the Woodland Trust’s First World War centenary woods project is available on the Trust’s website