THE chairman of West Lavington Parish Council, Mrs Sandra Gamble, planted the first tree of the parish’s Commemoration Copse on Remembrance Day in memory of the 25 who died from the parish in the First World War.

The Reverend Pat Strowger carried out the blessing in the presence of Councillors Peter Blundell, Hazel Freeman, Julia Ford, Sandra Gamble, Michael May, Tony Morton, Robert Oglesby and Wiltshire councillor Richard Gamble.

Many people have made it possible for the creation of the Commemoration Copse to become a reality. They include Mrs Caroline Holloway, who has donated this area; Mr Simon Collins of Gore Cross Farms Ltd and his manager, Mr Keith Potter for giving up the use of the adjacent land; Lt Col Tim Jalland and his colleagues at the Defence Infrastructure Organisation and Wiltshire councillor, Richard Gamble.

Councillors Peter Blundell and Michael Challinor have worked for over 12 months with the involvement of Mr Gamble, to ensure that this scheme came to fruition.

Perched high above Ram’s Cliff, the site has panoramic views over the entire parish. It dramatically emphasises the inextricable link between this parish and the military presence on Salisbury Plain being within sight and sound of the artillery guns.

In all 35 trees will be planted and, as they mature, they will be thinned and grow into a fine, iconic beech copse, a fitting tribute to the 25 soldiers from the parish who lost their lives fighting in the Great War.