This Friday pupils from Wright Robinson College in Gorton will display their work at Heroes Wood – Greater Manchester’s first ever memorial woodland.
Pupils in Years 8 – 9, aged 12 – 14, have been undertaking research with Manchester Central Library on the role Gortonian’s and Manchester played in WW1.
The new signage at Heroes Wood shows how industrial cities like Manchester played a significant role in creating munitions for the armed forces.
Students discovered how Beyer Peacock works in Gorton made stream engines but at the time of conflict turned to creating artillery to be used on the front line. In addition Sebastian Ferranti’s factory based near Oldham was outputting around 10,000 shells per week.
Their research will be unveiled as interpretation panels at Heroes Wood in Gorton, Greater Manchester’s first ever memorial woodland, created by environmental charity City of Trees.
Heroes Wood consists of nearly 100 oak and hazel trees, surrounded by a poppy ‘trench’ with inscribed memorial seating designed to provide a place of reflection and remembrance.
The new interpretation panels at Heroes Wood will be officially unveiled this Friday 9 November.
The event takes place ahead of both Armistice and Remembrance Day, and forms part of the WW1 Centenary Events, which are taking place between 2014 – 2018, to mark the 100th anniversary of the First World War.
The event will also see local groups come together including representatives from the Royal British Legion to pay tribute to those who served their country in the Great War 1914-1918 and armed conflicts since.
