Llangattock is to have a new Memorial Garden to honour the Sacrifice of local men and women in conflict.

Two commemorative benches are to be installed in the village’s Recreation Ground in time for the 75th Anniversary of VE Day in early May.

The Memorial Garden will be in a part of the park given for that purpose by the Duke of Beaufort just after World War 2.

Community councillors are to use their personal allowances to help pay for the benches and are appealing for further donations towards the cost from local residents.

Councillor Ann Williams has been the driving force behind the creation of the gardens.

She said, "The names of Llangattock’s fallen are recorded in the Church, but in this important year, marking the anniversary of the end of World War 2, we wanted to create a space where veterans and relatives could sit and remember those who have suffered through conflict. Everyone was affected in some way, those left at home and the children too, so we want it to be a space all can enjoy."

An area, to the side of the park, will be planted with shrubs, and the council are inviting local people and groups to get involved in setting out the ground, digging beds and planting-up in a volunteer day on Saturday, March 28. Two commemorative metal benches bearing the inscription “Lest We Forget” will be installed just before VE Day, and plaques in English and Welsh honouring the “Sacrifice of men and women from Llangattock and the surrounding areas in all conflicts” will be placed there soon after.

The Memorial Garden is the next step of the council’s ‘Perk Up The Park’ initiative, which aims to offer facilities for all ages and abilities. This will include a jogging track and trim trail which will link different areas of the park and make them accessible for people in wheelchairs, as well as new play equipment and plans for a ‘friendly bench’ to act as a meeting point for residents.

Chair of the Community Council, Richard Jones, explained the councillors’ decision to waive their allowances towards the cost of the benches, while also asking for donations from the public.

He said, "We wanted to contribute ourselves, and every pound we can raise and every penny we can save through voluntary effort is money we can use towards other facilities for the recreation ground. We have ambitious plans to ’Perk Up The Park’, but we will need to secure grant funding to do it, some of which we will have to match with money or effort. To get the large sums we need, Llangattock needs to demonstrate its commitment to improving the recreation ground and show the funding bodies that we care.”

The council intend to record and photograph the activities of volunteers and local businesses who get involved in the Perk Up The Park project, and include these in grant applications.

They are also planning to invite local people to a ‘Bring Your Own Picnic” event in the park in time for VE Day. Llangattock’s craft group have offered to make bunting, and local veterans as well as Ann Williams’ husband, Frank, who has written about the war with Japan, will help open the gardens.