MALDON'S avenue of trees, planted 77 years ago to remember the 180 townsmen who died in the Great War, was celebrated at a rededication ceremony on Saturday.
Three new saplings were planted to replace trees lost over the years, and a new memorial board listing all the town's lost soldiers, was also unveiled.
Saturday's event, which falls almost to the day of the original tree-planting in 1935, is the culmination of three years' work by the council.
Cllr David Williams, chairman of the council, who led the ceremony, said: "The Great War Avenue of Remembrance originally consisted of 180 trees named to the men of Maldon and Heybridge who made the ultimate sacrifice during the First World War.
"The avenue was originally planted on November 27, 1935 by the then Lord Lieutenant of Essex, Brigader-General Sir Richard Colvin, KCB, and by Canon I.L. Seymour, the vicar of All Saints Church, helped by the families of the fallen who each planted a tree.
"Saturday's event was the culmination of a three-year programme to restore the avenue and to replace the trees that have been lost over time.
"The work on the avenue will be ongoing as many of the trees are now quite old and will require further care over the next few years.
"It is the intention of the council to plant more trees over the next few years which will help secure the avenue's future management and never allow the number of trees to fall below the original number of 180."
Helping Cllr Williams with the planting was the current Lord Lieutenant of Essex, Lord Petre.
A small blessing was also given by the Bishop of Bradwell.
Local historian and deputy mayor, Stephen Nunn, who helped with the project, added: "When the avenue was planted it was described by the British Legion as; 'the biggest thing that the ex-servicemen in this town have ever attempted'.
"The King's representative, the Lord Lieutenant, placed the first tree, followed by the Mayor, who positioned another on behalf of the district. A signal was then given and the friends and relatives of each of the fallen simultaneously planted the avenue of chestnuts.
"It was also said the trees would act as; 'a remembrance for many centuries to come, to be cherished and cared for by the townspeople and guarded with loving care'."
