Town commemorates WWI centenary with recycled benches

Town commemorates WWI centenary with recycled benches
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This month, black and poppy red recycled plastic benches were installed along the Poppy Trail around Sowood and Stainland, England to mark 100 years since the end of World War I.

In Sowood, nearly 100 service people lost their lives in the Great War. One village street became known as “Spinster Lane” for its high proportion of grieving widows.

“We felt there was a need to ensure future generations maintain awareness of the sacrifices made by people from this area,” says Jackie Swire of Sowood’s Women’s Institute, the driving force behind the memorial trail. “When we researched the impact of the first World War on this part of Calderdale we were amazed to discover that even though the population was a lot lower then, almost a hundred local men never returned from the war. We wanted to ensure that our children grow up with an appreciation for that sacrifice.”

After raising money from donations, the Women’s Institute put plans in place to erect a monument and stone plaques listing the name of each local soldier killed in the war. More than a dozen recycled plastic benches and picnic tables—designed to last a century—were provided by British Recycled Plastic and placed along the routes of the Poppy Trail to give rest to walkers and locals remembering the lives lost.

The benches–made from most of the waste plastic produced by Scotland’s farming community, including hay bale wrapping, silage wrapping, crates and packaging–were assembled by volunteers and WI members. Each of the benches are inscribed: “Let those who come after see to it that his name be not forgotten.”

“We’ve really made an impression. There’s a subtle reminder for future generations almost anywhere you go,” Swire says. “Our donors and especially our wonderful volunteers have really built something that will last a lifetime and beyond.”

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Source: Recycling Today
Town commemorates WWI centenary with recycled benches
<![CDATA[This month, black and poppy red recycled plastic benches were installed along the Poppy Trail around Sowood and Stainland, England to mark 100 years since the end of World War I.In Sowood, nearly 100 service people lost their lives in the Great War. One village street became known as “Spinster Lane” for its high proportion of grieving widows.“We felt there was a need to ensure future generations maintain awareness of the sacrifices made by people from this area,” says Jackie Swire of Sowood’s Women’s Institute, the driving force behind the memorial trail. “When we researched the impact of the first World War on this part of Calderdale we were amazed to discover that even though the population was a lot lower then, almost a hundred local men never returned from the war. We wanted to ensure that our children grow up with an appreciation for that sacrifice.”After raising money from donations, the Women’s Institute put plans in place to erect a monument and stone plaques listing the name of each local soldier killed in the war. More than a dozen recycled plastic benches and picnic tables—designed to last a century—were provided by British Recycled Plastic and placed along the routes…