SCOTLAND'S First World War heroes are to be honoured with the planting of a new native woodland in the Pentland Hills as a living memorial.

The Woodland Trust Scotland and the MoD's Defence Infrastructure Organisation are to create one of four First World War Centenary Woods due to be planted by the charity across the UK on military training ground south of Edinburgh.

Over the next four years more than 50,000 trees including oak, birch and rowan will be planted on land that has been used by army personnel for training for more than a century on the MoD training estate at Dreghorn.

Forty hectares of native woodland will be created to extend and buffer existing woods on the site.

The Woodland Trust has appealed to the public for help in raising £500,000 towards the project in Scotland.

The woodland includes a memorial avenue of 50 trees that will break into vivid reds in autumn. Wildflowers including poppies will be sown to provide colour while the new trees mature.

A formal commemoration area will also be created to provide a focal point for remembrance. The majority of the trees will be planted this autumn and next spring.

Carol Evans, director of Woodland Trust Scotland said: "We urgently need help from the public to create this living memorial."