Colchester Borough Council is inviting the public to come along and help plant a new woodland, to mark the 100^th anniversary of the end of the First World War.

The woodland, which will provide a living memorial to those who lost their lives in the Great War, is set to include a mix of native tree species including birch, hazel and alder, and will be planted in a dedicated area in Castle Park on 24 and 25 November, to coincide with the start of National Tree Planting Week.

Members of the public are invited to join in this very special commemoration through a minimum donation of £10 to plant a tree, with proceeds being donated to the Royal British Legion.

Sponsors will be able to dedicate their tree to an individual or group and can choose to hang a small laminated picture or letter from its branches to make it even more personal.

Each tree will also come with an official commemorative certificate that will record the details of any dedication. A record of all the trees and dedications will then be preserved in the Borough Archives.

The Mayor of Colchester, Cllr Peter Chillingworth, will plant the first tree in a special ceremony on 24 November, and the Bishop of Colchester, Roger Morris, will dedicate the wood on the final day of tree-planting.

Two hundred trees will be planted in total, to allow for thinning as the trees mature and to encourage greater diversity of flora and fauna on the woodland floor.

To ensure a diversity of trees, contributors will be allocated a sapling on the day and be given a one-hour time slot to come along and plant it. The ground will be already prepared for the trees and assistance with the planting will be available on the day if required. Arrangements can also be made if you would like to dedicate a tree but are unable to attend the planting.

Please note ownership of the trees will remain with Colchester Borough Council, who will manage the woodland appropriately. This includes removing any trees that may be diseased or dead.

On the next page you will able to pick your preferred date and time for the planting (we cannot guarantee to allocate your preferences, but will endeavour to do so), you will also be able to add the details of any commemoration that you would like recorded on your certificate.