A new landmark has appeared on the border of Didcot and East Hagbourne to mark the Millennium, writes Michael Hambleton.

Thirteen Mendip limestone boulders weighing four to five tonnes apiece from a quarry in Frome, Somerset, are the centrepiece of Didcot's Millennium Wood project to create a nine-acre landscape of mostly oak and ash woodland along with a wet area.

Inside the 30m-wide circle will be a grassed labyrinth or maze with gravelled paths. This autumn, 7,150 trees will be planted in the field, which is next to St Birinus School's Hagbourne Triangle sports field, along with more than 2,300 native shrubs.

The meadow is owned by the town council, which has earmarked 22,000 for the project.

The town council technical manager, Brenda Andrews, said: "The wood will have pathways for the public and is being planted to encourage wildlife.

"There is an opportunity for herbaceous planting around the pond. "We would be pleased to hear from local gardeners who would like to be involved in raising native wild meadow species for planting."

But undoubtedly the focus of this scheme will be the stone circle a contribution from Sutton Courtenay-based Hanson Aggregates.

Miss Andrews said the idea for the stone circle was to create something that would stand the test of time and could still be there at the next Millennium.