VOLUNTEERS were planting trees in Laverstock last weekend, as part of the mission to create a memorial woodland.

The First World War Memorial Woodland came to life on Sunday as part of the Armistice weekend, as volunteers came together to plant trees in Castle Hill Country Park.

Laverstock and Ford parish councillor, Lesley Waller planted the first tree of the day, after a small service including a reading from Reverend Jill Offer and wreathes being led by Royal Air Force Flight Lieutenant Nick Perrott, British Army Lieutenant Colonel Dan Herberts and Royal Navy Lieutenant Martyn Allan.

As well as the woodland launch guests also had the opportunity to view a poppy-themed tile in memory of those who lost their lives from the parish during the war, designed by Kerry Lemon.

David Burton from the parish council described the service in his speech to volunteers as "brilliant", adding: "Thank you all for coming and taking part, we are now here to do a job which is of course to create the wood."

After this volunteers grabbed a shovel and planted trees in the nursery along the edge of the park as the sun went down.

The tree planting and maintenance will continue over the next few weeks until a copse of at least 1,000 trees is formed.

The next volunteering session will be on Saturday (November 17), from 10am - 12pm, where trees will start being planted in the wood.