PLANS have been tabled to build a brand new memorial garden to honour those who died in the two World Wars.

An application has been submitted to Carlisle City Council to bring a new community remembrance garden to the grounds of The Knowe Church in Bewcastle, which is a small hamlet near the Scottish border.

“It is a remembrance garden for those killed in the first and second World Wars,” explained chairman of Bewcastle Parish Council, Margaret Smith, 82.

“We are going to make it the starting point for a memorial walk, which we did when it was the 100th anniversary of World War One.

“We have two war memorials in the parish of Bewcastle: one at Knowe and one at St Cuthbert’s Church.

“We walked up from St Cuthbert’s back to the hall at Bewcastle.

“We went past a few of the places where the people lived who died in the war. It was an idea that grew when we did the walk.”

Inspired by this walk, plans began to take shape to make it a regular feature in the area.

Included in the plans is a proposal to build an information board that will show the route, so residents can follow it throughout the year.

“We’ve got grants from Cumbria County Council and Carlisle City Council. We’ve got a grant from the city council for a picnic table. Friends of the Lake District are going to help us,”, said Mrs Smith.

The chairman hopes it will be a boost for the area.

“It’s going to be a local amenity, it is in a beautiful part of Bewcastle. People will be able to sit in the garden and listen to the birds,” she said.

Mrs Smith is passionate about the importance of remembering those who have given their lives fighting for our country.

She said: “It’s extremely important, we wouldn’t be in such a good position today without them.”

Despite progress being delayed due to coronavirus, the parish council was hopeful progress may soon start to be made.

“We hope it will take a few weeks to get planning permission and then people hopefully give us the grants and we make a start,” said Mrs Smith. “Hopefully then we can get on with it.”

A total price for the works has yet to be established. Disused church grounds will be used to create a garden with accompanying gravel paths, bench seating and picnic tables.

A new opening is also proposed in the existing boundary wall, with a new drystone wall built along the roadside.

Existing trees will be maintained, the planning application stated.

Tradesmen with connections to the area have offered to give up their time for free to complete the works. All paths and the new entrances will be wheelchair friendly.

To view the application, the reference number is 20/0243.