Princess Anne came to Epsom last week to officially name a unique forest being created to commemorate those who died 100 years ago in the First World War.

The Princess Royal, 64, visited the 640-acre site at Langley Vale on Wednesday on the border between Epsom Downs and Mole Valley.

The Woodland Trust is developing one of four "flagship woods" there to mark the anniversary of the start of the war.

Three others have been planted in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as part of a £12m project to create a "living legacy" to educate future generations.

The trust said the princess spoke of her joy at attending and celebrating the site's historial connections and that she often sees the site from her helicopter window and looks forward to watching it develop.

Ten thousand trees have already been planted by schoolchildren and residents at the site which was named Langley Vale Wood by the princess, who is the patron of the initiative.

Langley Vale was used 100 years ago as a training area for British troops, known as Tadworth Camp.

The only evidence left behind of this is a solitary timber flagpole in part of the site known as Gas School Wood, which the trust hopes to restore.

Princess Anne made a speech, followed by local cadets raising a flag on a flagpole which read the official new name of the site.

The sights and sounds of the First World War in Epsom were recreated as part of the event.

The 10th Essex Regiment Living History group created vignettes of life on a First World War training camp, including bayonet and gas training, while a re-enactment of horse logging and charcoal making was given in nearby woodland.

There was also a fly past by the Great War Display Team.

The local Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association and students from The Vale primary school were on hand to talk about the trees they helped plant on the site to kick-start its transformation into a place for remembrance.

Philippa Borrill, the Woodland Trust’s Centenary Woods project manager, said: "It was a wonderful day, which celebrated the rich history of Epsom and Langley Vale Wood itself, by re-enacting the day-to-day activities of the First World War training camp.

"A great day was had by all and we hope the local community will also take the chance to shape our future plans for the site."

The trust wants to hear residents' thoughts about what the wood looks like and how it will develop over the years, including issues around car park, access and findings from an ecological survey completed at the site.

A public consultation will be held this Friday, July 3, from 6.30pm to 9pm, and Saturday, July 4, from 1.30pm to 4pm. Both events will take place at Langley Vale village hall.

So far £4.6m of a required total of £9m has been raised for the project. To make a donation visit www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/donate.

The trust will continue to run community planting events throughout the project. People can also dedicate trees to their ancestors. For more information visit www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/FWW.

It hopes to complete the forest in time for Remembrance Day 2018.

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