A Moray community were paying their own very special tribute on Remembrance Sunday – by turning out on a boggy field to plant 420 new trees.
Residents from Duffus – including pupils from the nearby Gordonstoun School – turned out to plant the trees as a very special commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the start of the first world war.
The idea came when local tree surgeon Alex Sills spotted a request from the Woodland Trust seeking communities throughout the UK who were willing to be part of the special Remembrance Day project.
Alex explained: “I work for a tree surgery company and got an email saying that the Woodland Trust were looking to do WW1 centenary woodlands all over the UK.
“So we applied on behalf of Duffus Village Community – and managed to get 420 native broadleaf trees.
“Now today on Remembrance Sunday we have gathered a group of volunteers from the local community and Gordonstoun School to plant them all out.”
The Woodland Trust project will see ‘Centenary Woods’ planted throughout the UK, with a spokesman for the Trust saying: “These Centenary Woods will stand for all time, for everyone to enjoy – they will be spaces where songbirds can raise their voices in tribute to everyone affected by the war and where future generations can run and play.”
Alex said he has not heard of any other community in Moray who have applied for Centenary Woods, adding: “It is all very exciting for us here in Duffus in particular to plant 420 trees and we know they are going to be here for many years, so young people involved here today if they remain in the area will see them grow as they do.”