Friday 19th July marked the 100th Anniversary of Peace Day, the parade and celebration of peace held when peace was secure and the final treaty within sight. Hartham Park opened their Memorial Woodland to commemorate the 121 servicemen of Corsham who sacrificed their lives serving in the First World War.
The Memorial Woodland is part of a wide-scale community project across Wiltshire. Over 10,000 trees have been planted across the county as a lasting tribute to the fallen soldiers. The project is being coordinated by Wiltshire Council and kindly supported by the Woodland Trust. For the town of Corsham, Hartham Park have planted 121 trees within the grounds of the Georgian manor-house.
Guests were invited to Hartham Park last Friday for the opening of the woodland. Kevin Gaskin from the Corsham Commemorates Group started the ceremony with a few words, followed by Jeffrey Thomas the owner of Hartham Park, and Steve Abbott, Corsham Town Council’s Chairman. The guests were then taken to view the woodland to remember the dead.
Jeffrey Thomas said: “As a resident of Corsham for over 20 years, I am incredibly passionate about supporting the local community.
Inspiring future generations to learn of our history and then prosper with education and business is why I am personally invested in a number of companies and charitable organisations that are helping to drive that… Creating this special woodland will serve as a wonderful focal point for the people of Corsham and beyond.
Visitors will be able to come and enjoy our spectacular grounds, pay respect to our fallen heroes, learn about the historic events of WW1, and be inspired to make their own history.”
Hartham Park Memorial Woodland is now open to the public and can be found up by the estate’s historical Stické Court.