NORLEY Wildlife Group is planning to plant 10,000 snowdrops along the route of a wildlife walk and in the village.

The planting is one a number of projects being undertaken by the community group, which created a circular, three-mile wildflower walk last year to commemorate the Norley men who died in The First World War.

There are memorial plaques sited around the walk, and blood-red poppies have been sown around them in remembrance, as well as wildflowers with which the men would have been familiar when they walked around the village more than a century ago.

A guided walk takes place on Saturday, July 2, starting at St John’s the Evangelist Church at 2pm, to commemorate Norley’s contribution to the Battle of the Somme, which took place from July 1 to November 21, 1916.

Norley men Sam Grindley, Alfred Rutter and Edward Parrot died in the battle, and Chris Fletcher, who was badly wounded, died four years later.

Wildlife group chairman Phil Gifford said money was needed by the group as it had taken over responsibility for the memorial garden on the walk, and aims to plant snowdrops, together with primroses, cowslips and wood anemones.

“While poppies are fixed in our thoughts as the flowers of remembrance, in the past snowdrops have been planted by returning soldiers from The Crusades and Crimea,” said Mr Gifford.

“So the wildlife group plans to organise a mass planting of 10,000 snowdrops this September, along the walk and elsewhere in the village, such as outside villagers’ houses.

“The freshly-dug bulbs from Peter Nyssen’s nursery, if planted straightaway, will give a wonderful show, which with regular replanting every year, will get better and better.”

The bulbs cost £120 per thousand, and the wildlife group is inviting donations towards the cost. Alternatively villagers are welcome to plant snowdrops outside their homes or along the memorial walk.

The map guide can be bought at The Stores in Norley for £1, and a full-sized reproduction costs £10.

The wildlife group plans to have a Corn-dolly competition at Norley Garden Show on September 3.

To help visitors find their way around the walk two display boards and banners were made, and were installed by Cheshire West and Chester Council.

Grass seed donated by Burleydam Garden Centre and a Heritage meadow flower mix from Landlife has been sown to create a traditional wildflower meadow.

To contact Mr Gifford email ansellpgifford@gmail.com.