Retired servicemen and representatives from The Royal British Legion planted poppy seeds at Trelawny Garden Centre at Ashford in Devon on Tuesday to commemorate the First World War.  

Caroline Howell-Williams, General Manager at Trelawney@Ashford on Strand Lane in Ashford, Barnstaple, said: “We are delighted retired servicemen, Royal Marines, representatives from The Royal British Legion and the Royal Airforce Association and Stuart Rason, Padre at RMB Chivenor came along to the garden centre to help us sow our Flanders poppies as part of the Royal British Legion’s Centenary Campaign.

“The aim of the campaign is to cover the UK with poppies during the centenary period in commemoration of all those who lost their lives in the First World War.

“The national campaign will see the Legion asking the public and local authorities to purchase Flanders poppy seeds to plant on their own land.”

The Royal British Legion is the UK’s leading service charity providing care and support to serving members of the Armed Forces, veterans of all ages and their families.

Trelawney@Ashford is an award-winning, independent garden centre owned by David Danning and David Symons, who have also run a sister garden centre in Cornwall, Trelawney@Wadebridge, for more than 30 years.

The family-run business includes two generations of the Danning and Symons families. The company is opening its third garden centre Trelawney@Probus on a green-field site in Cornwall next year (2015).

Trelawney@Ashford provides customers with a wide range of quality gardening products including plants, furniture, barbecues, garden buildings, gifts and food items. Its friendly and knowledgeable staff are on-hand to give visitors help and advice on all gardening matters.

As well as gardening products, the garden centre also has a specialist Craft Centre for keen knitters, card-makers and bead crafters and a camping and outdoor pursuit concession.

The Garden Restaurant, which seats up to 150 customers, is situated alongside Trelawney@Ashford’s gardens. It serves hot and cold drinks, snacks, cakes, breakfasts, lunches, a daily carvery and children’s meals.

For more information, call Trelawney@Ashford, which is located on Strand Lane in Ashford, Barnstaple, on 01271 342880 or visit www.trelawney.co.uk.