WORKS to create a memorial garden at Howle Hill were completed in time for Remembrance Sunday.

The memorial garden will have the cross bearing the names of the servicemen who fought in the two World Wars at the centre of the new scheme, but it has not been moved because planning permission is required to relocate it.

At the garden’s informal opening Walford Parish Councillor Mark Petersen explained that the village no longer has a pub, post office or a church and added: "It has been a great pleasure for me to have overseen the construction of our new memorial garden.

“All those involved or contributed to the project have enabled a lovely peaceful place for people to sit and reflect on their loved ones that have passed or to meet with friends to have a catch up and a chat.”

“It's also what the memorial garden will mean to those families in the local community who either served or played a role in the two wars.”

The Howle Hill Memorial Garden has been a community-led project with governance provided by Walford Parish Council and financed by the National Lottery Community Fund grant.

Terry Griffiths, the parish council’s lengthsman and his teams were thanked for delivering such a stunning transformation of the overgrown derelict area.

The working group received significant donations from Freemans Contracting and Walford Timber. The project also received a significant amount of topsoil from the Cornes family.

Yolande Watson, of Howle Hill said: “There are many people, local companies and organisations who have supported the project, provided advice, attended meetings, delivered talks to raise funds, lent a hand to clear brash and made donations.

"These and our valued volunteers will be mentioned on a certificate of contributions that will be hung inside the bus shelter next to the garden.

“It has been decided to hold the official opening of the garden when the memorial cross is moved into the garden.

“The Howle Hill Memorial Garden Project is an example of what can be achieved when a community comes together and is supported by its partners.”