HOLLY bushes planted at Little Sutton Railway Station commemorating those who went to war are to be replanted at a ceremony this week.
The Friends of Little Sutton Station have been researching its history and uncovered the saga of the war memorial holly trees, which is believed to have begun in 1916.
Local men went off to war from Little Sutton Station and it is believed holly bushes were first planted as a tribute to those from the area who fought so bravely in the First World War.
However, in the 1990s Railtrack refurbished the station and dug out the old holly trees – upsetting the community.
Residents John Docherty, Bob McDonald and Janet Money worked tirelessly to get memorial holly replanted at the station and were successful in 1994.
Now, 18 years later, the replacement hollies have been dwarfed by trees and are out of bounds by the track – prompting the Friends to see if new holly could be planted in a public place at the station.
Merseyrail has provided a planter on the station and, like it did in 1994, Burleydam Garden Centre is providing the new trees.
Cllr Angela Claydon said: “The history of holly bushes at Little Sutton station, their long-standing significance and the importance of them to the local community is some-thing I am delighted to see commemorated.”
For more on attending the ceremony, or to volunteer, call senior transport officer Sally Buttifant on 01244 976788.
