Ambitious tree-planting plan for WW1 centenary
A charity has launched an ambitious project to plant 100 trees to commemorate the century since the end of the First World War.
Hollingbourne Meadows Trust is spearheading the scheme, labelled Project 100, and hopes to raise £250,000 to remember those who fought for their country between 1914 and 1918 with an avenue of remembrance off Culpeper Close.
Shaun Cardwell, a director of the charitable trust, has approached businesses to help with the project, in conjunction with the Leeds and Hollingbourne branch of the Royal British Legion.
He said: “We are an environmental charity with 40 acres of land in and around Hollingbourne and people buy trees on our land and dedicate them to people after weddings and funerals.
“We put a plan together to raise £250,000. The initial cost would be £50,000 and that would be planting the trees and maintaining it. Any money on top would then be split between the two charities.”
Plans drawn up by the organisations include hawthorn trees planted in four lines of 25, with a “circle of peace” in the middle.
Back-up plans for a scaleddown memorial have been made in case the target is not reached.
Mr Cardwell said: “We have submitted a number of applications for grants to Tesco for funds between £10,000 and £60,000 and we will be approaching commercial entities around Kent to get involved with it.
“The idea is to try and get it open by November so that we can have a celebration in the meadows where we can have flags flying and trumpets.
“We have thousands of people who go walking on our land and the avenue will be open to anybody.
“It is a nice project for the community and everybody we have spoken to has jumped on board.”
To donate visit tinyurl.com/ proj100