DECORATED remembrance rocks that pay tribute to fallen heroes from the local area have been hidden at a north Cumbrian nature reserve.

Pupils from Wiggonby Primary School, near Wigton, are behind the project, having researched the World War One heroes from their communities.

Dubbed Wiggonby Remembers, the school teamed up with Watchtree Nature Reserve to decorate and hide the commemorative stones.

Each features a commemoration to one of the fallen - whose names are on war memorials in Aikton, Kirkbampton and Great Orton.

They now hope local residents and visitors will go off in search of the stones, read the messages, take photos and post on the Watchtree Facebook page, using the #Wiggonbyremembers hashtag.

The stones are just one of the Armistice projects that children at the school have been involved in.

Headteacher Andrew Brooks said all pupils from years two to six have been learning about World War One, why it started and its famous battles.

Following this, they then spent time thinking about war and how it may have affected the families of those who went to fight for their country.

The children took part in drama sessions and produced freeze frames, reflecting the possible thoughts of soldiers’ family members.

They also looked at some of the poems written by soldier and war poet, Wilfred Owen, and then compiled their own in a similar style.

The Wiggonby poem, The Letter, depicts a soldier writing a letter to his wife from the front line.

Mr Brooks said pupils had been absorbed by the project.

“I think they gained an understanding and appreciation of the sacrifices made, not just by local soldiers but all soldiers from World War One onwards,” he added.

Wiggonby pupils have also spent time reading about their local heroes on the Everyone Remembered website, finding out how they died and in which battle.

They then left their own commemorations online.

A file of their findings, featuring details of the fallen and a certificate of memorial to each soldier, is at now at Watchtree for visitors to view.

North Lakes School in Penrith have also been carrying out a similar initiative with pupils making their own remembrance stones, which have been scattered. Many other schools have their own tributes planned.