A REMEMBRANCE garden has been planted at Springfield Park in Kidderminster to honour the heroes who gave their lives in the First World War.

The Milldale Memorial, which includes a poppy cross, plaque and two rose bushes representing peace and tranquility, was created by The Friends of Springfield Park in a quiet area of woodland garden.

Members of the group Ken Patrick and John Wagstaff led the project, which contributed to the Royal British Legion’s nationwide campaign to cover the UK with poppies to commemorate the centenary of the declaration of fighting.

Mr Wagstaff, who recently visited the beaches and war graves of Normandy, said: “My relative, Ernest Wagstaff of the Grenadier Guards, lost his life in 1916 on the Somme.

“He lived at 22 Clensmore Street, not a stone’s throw from the memorial, and would have spent time in this area and undoubtedly fished in the Stackpool.”

The garden also includes a sand pillow, set between the rose bushes at the base of the plaque, which allows local people to leave marks of respect to relatives lost in the 1914 to 1918 conflict.

Mr Patrick, head gardener of the friends group, added: “It makes all the hard work worthwhile when you come here one morning and find that someone has placed their own tribute to a grandfather who died in 1918 in northern France.”