Netteswell Memorial,Town Square, Harlow

Poppy railings enhance Netteswell War Memorial. Supply and installation of galvanized and polyester powder coated decorative railings with Poppy detail.

On Remembrance Day, hundreds of people gathered to watch the procession of war veterans in Harlow Town Park, Essex, next to the renovated Netteswell War Memorial.

The renovation, which included a newly landscaped area, created by Southern Landscapes and decorative railings that were design-assisted and supplied by Alpha Rail, was completed in time for the Remembrance Sunday celebrations.

The renovations to the war memorial were urgently required as it is located on a village green, opposite a busy public house and often revellers spilled out into the streets and onto the unfenced garden area around the war memorial on weekends and evenings. As it is located at the side of a busy main road, Harlow Council felt it was important to create a secluded area for the war memorial, where respects could be paid to the war dead and ceremonies could be carried out on special days, such as Remembrance Sunday. The garden itself, with so much public usage, often looked untidy and local residents had become concerned by what was happening to the treasured memorial garden.

Landscape architects Groundwork Hertfordshire worked closely with the council to design a new landscaped area, surrounded by high quality railings, that would both protect the area and make it more secluded and private and therefore more be-fitting of a war memorial.

Taking the theme of remembrance, the architects incorporated poppies into the design of the decorative railings. Main contractor Southern Landscapes commissioned Alpha Rail to create the decorative railings, to the architects drawings, on all four sides of Netteswell War Memorial. Alpha Rail was easily able to cope with these unique requirements, as the company offers a comprehensive design-assist and manufacturing capability. Almost 35m of railings were supplied in two heights - 2500mm and 1531mm high. This meant that the garden could be seen and enjoyed from outside, but gave it its distance and a sense of privacy from the rest of the area.

Fraser Borwick, Landscape Group Leader, said: “We wanted to create a sense of place where local residents and war veterans could visit at their leisure and ceremonies could be carried out on special days. We consulted several parties, such as the British Legion and the Far East Prisoners of War Association, to make sure we created an area that provided the war memorial and the people it represents with the respect they deserve. We have had some very positive feedback from local residents and veterans organisations, who are delighted with the results.”

Phil Ball, Sales Director at Alpha Rail, explains: “This was a very unique project and one which gave us the opportunity to demonstrate our design-assist services. We are delighted that the new railings and landscaped area has been so well received. It really does look stunning and it has rightly given what is a very special place, the recognition it deserves.”

Alpha Rail supplied the railings fully galvanised and powder coated in black. Prior to the Remembrance Sunday commemorations, the contractor was asked to paint some of the poppies red to add further emphasis.

The garden has been carefully planned with Rosemary, to symbolise remembrance, planted at the entrance and other vegetation carefully chosen to ensure all-year-round blooms.

Alpha Rail, which is based in Nottinghamshire, has extensive experience in park and garden restoration. Netteswell War Memorial is the latest in a list of prestigious projects that Alpha Rail has supplied with new railings and gates, with others including St Leonard’s Gardens, Dorchester Gardens, Wollaton Park in Nottingham, Battersea Park in Wandsworth (winner of a Civic Trust Award), Roundhay Park in Leeds and Handsworth Park in Birmingham.