Colchester's "Avenue of Trees" - a memorial to fallen soldiers

Description:

An "Avenue of Trees" is being planted in the Garrison Town of Colchester's Castle Park to commemorate fallen soldiers. The trees  will be a memorial to soldiers from 16 Air Assault Brigade who have died since the brigade's formation 10 years ago.

The Brigade is  an airborne force made up of units from the Army and RAF and numbers about 6,000 personnel.

A plaque will be unveiled at the entrance to the park and after the ceremony, a service at St Peter's Church will celebrate the relationship between the church and the garrison.

St Peter's Church has seen homecoming services, military funerals and services of remembrance.

The Colchester MP, Mr. Bob Russell, the came up with the idea of planting five semi-mature trees and commented "Colchester is very supportive of our soldiers and the Town shares the grief when soldiers are killed - and we share the pride of their service to their country." "I thought that one way of showing our support for the fallen was to plant trees in the Castle Park, a wonderful setting for such a living memorial."

A public appeal was launched to raise the money for the trees.