PULL on your wellies and dig out your spade to help plant a thousand trees in Chippenham's Westmead playing field on Thursday.

The tree-planting was set up to remember the Wiltshire soldiers who gave their lives in World War One, in this the month of the centenary of the end of the war.

The project has been made possible thanks to generous donation of trees by the Woodland Trust, working in collaboration with Chippenham Borough Lands Charity and Wiltshire Council. Soldiers from the Royal Logistics Corps from Buckley Barracks and Wessex Water employees, together with staff from the charity, will be helping to plant the trees. Volunteers would be most welcome to join in for this special commemorative project.

A mix of native broad-leaf species will be planted to create a natural looking woodland. The trees and shrubs chosen are all native to the UK and offer many benefits to wildlife and the local environment. They include oak, silver birch, wild cherry, crab apple and hawthorn, amongst others.

Phil Tansley, CEO for Chippenham Borough Lands Charity said: “The playing field is fully accessible to the public and marks a continuation of the charity’s extensive programme of native woodland planting in the Westmead open space to provide green spaces for everyone to enjoy. We hope this will be a peaceful tribute for generations to come.”

The Chippenham Borough Lands Charity works to benefit the town and provides support and funds for a diverse range of groups.

The Woodland Trust is the UK's largest woodland conservation charity, and works to protect and campaigns for woods, plants trees, and restores ancient woodland for the benefit of wildlife and people.

If you would like to join in, assemble outside the 10th Chippenham Scout Hut at 9am.