We will plant 100 large English Oak and Hazel trees - this will create an immediate impact. A new wheelchair friendly footpath will be installed leading to the heart of the woodland where there will be a memorial seating feature and space to hold commemoration events. The site will be enclosed by a beautiful red poppy border. We'll get school children, ex-service men and women, Friends of Debdale Park, and local residents involved in planting the woodland and the poppies. Pupils from Wright Robinson School will research the involvement of Mancunians in the First World War. This will focus on all people that participated or were affected by the war, including soldiers and their families, doctors, nurses and factory workers. The information collected by the pupils will be used for creating a booklet, website resource, information boards, and art works to be incorporated into the woodland. We'll invite local people and school children to come along to a launch and planting events.

What we'll deliver:

• Interpretive materials
• Memorial seating feature
• 100 trees
• Commemoration events
• New wheelchair friendly footpath

Why it's a great idea:

This project provides a unique opportunity for young people to learn about the involvement of Mancunians in WW1. Heroes Wood will encourage inter generational engagement, with pupils from Wright Robinson School working with older people to find out about their family involvement during WW1. At present there is no focal point for collective commemoration during armistice. Heroes Wood will provide this focus and bring people together from across Gorton and surrounding areas. This project will create a beautiful woodland which as well as being a place for reflection, contemplation and learning, will also provide an important habitat for wildlife. Ex-service men and women will work alongside school children in the development and delivery of this project. Young people will have a better understanding of what it must have been like to serve their country during an armed conflict which will make their learning experience of WW1 more real.

Steps to get it done:

• Install art feature seating
• Install interpretation boards
• Project complete
• Booklet and webpage produced
• Create new path
• Launch event
• Plant 100 trees
• Planting event
• Sow poppy meadow

Heores Wood is a project that will not only commemorate the First World War, but will also provide a long lasting place of memory and reflection for all people that have served their country or been affected by conflicts since 1918.