Local
authorities, town councils and parish council landowners are featured in a
UK-wide, World War I commemoration programme during this anniversary year.
Landowners
are honouring the memories of those soldiers who fought and died in conflict by
designating parks and green spaces as Centenary Fields, part of the UK-wide
commemoration programme led by Fields in Trust. This designation ensures that
land will remain available as a recreational space for the community in
perpetuity.
Over 100
councils have participated in the Centenary Fields programme to date.
Examples of Councils
featured in the campaign include North Somerset Council who protected two sites
which contributed to the war effort – including Weston Woods that supplied
timber to shore-up trenches on the Western Front.
Belper Town Council
has showcased the contemporary resonance of the Great War by commissioning a
new installation for their Memorial Gardens called "Sacrifice",
representing a soldier from the town who was killed during the War.
Didcot Town Council
unveiled a new plaque at the Smallbone Recreation Ground War memorial and local
school children placed 28 remembrance crosses, each bearing the name of one of
the Didcot men who fell during World War I.
Llantwit Major Town
Council dedicated Seaview Park as a Centenary Field. At the end of World War
II, many residents of Llantwit Major gave a shilling toward the refurbishment
of the town’s War Memorial Cross as there were additional funds remaining a set
of memorial gates were commissioned. In 2014 Llantwit Major Town Council
refurbished the memorial gates.
Protected sites are
also featured in the Centenary Fields Legacy Programme online story map, to
remember those who served and lost their lives during the conflict and to say
“Thank You” to the World War I Generation. Fields in Trust are revealing the
story of one Centenary Field each day at 11am.
The Centenary Fields
Legacy Programme which will run until the anniversary of Armistice Day on 11th
November is in delivered in partnership with the Royal British Legion’s “Thank
You” project highlighting the nation’s gratitude to the generation who served
in WWI. Protecting parks and green spaces in perpetuity is an innovative way to
honour the memory of the World War I servicemen and also those, military and
civilian, who played their part on the home-front to build a better life for
the benefit of generations to come.
Centenary Fields
protected as part of the programme include war memorials, parks and recreation
grounds, memorial gardens, playing fields or other green spaces with a
significant World War I link. Stories featured will highlight the contribution
of individual combatants, those who returned – and many who did not. We will
also look at memorials to the fallen, ranging from simple village stone cross
to more intricate commemorative sculpture. We will explore how these parks and
green spaces served the War effort – for example providing timber for trenches.
We will also address the contemporary resonance – communities doing something
now to remember the sacrifice of 100 years ago.
The
Centenary Fields Legacy memorial project contributes to the Royal British
Legion’s Thank You movement. These
important spaces form a vital part of local heritage and play a key role in
making the First World War relevant to today’s generation - fully embracing the
spirit of this centenary year. Communities are encouraged to organise Thank You
events in Centenary Fields throughout the year.
Fields
in Trust Chairman of Trustees, Tim Phillips, said: “We congratulate local
council landowners for dedicating their parks and green spaces as Centenary
Fields. these precious places are now included forever in our national
programme to commemorate World War I.
"Protection
of these sites not only recognise the sacrifices of those who gave their lives
during the conflict, but also ensures that future generations will have
valuable green spaces to enjoy as a living legacy.”
Follow the Centenary Fields legacy campaign online www.fieldsintrust.org/centenary-fields-legacywww.fieldsintrust.org/centenary-fields-legacy or on social media #CFLegacy
