Trees have been planted at a memorial garden to give a living tribute to fallen service personnel.

The garden, in Norton Lane, Brize Norton, is the focal point of repatriation ceremonies from RAF Brize Norton.

Thousands of people have gathered to pay respects at the garden for three repatriations since they returned from RAF Lyneham.

The five pear trees have been chosen for their year-round colour, silver in spring, green in summer and golden in autumn.

They form a backdrop to the garden’s Cotswold stone walls and flagpole.

The memorial garden was designed by West Oxfordshire District Council street scene officer Alison Leask.

She said: “I knew the garden would be centred around the flag pole and I wanted to give it a simple and dignified setting.

“The design is intended to be classic and timeless while being low maintenance, hard-wearing and attractive through the year.

“My inspiration came from the Cotswold dry-stone walls, with their coping stones, plus the beautiful herbaceous planting that is a feature of many of our historic gardens.”

She said she was honoured to have been asked to design the garden and was very pleased with the result.

The final piece of the garden, a poppy meadow on the banks to the rear of the garden, will be sown in the spring.

The trees, which were paid for by Carterton Town Council, were planted on Friday.

Town mayor Norman MacRae, who turned out to lend a helping hand, said: “The trees are now in place and they look absolutely splendid. It just finishes it off and gives it that sense of balance.

“From the town council, it is a living tribute to the dead and a gesture on behalf of the town.

“In two years’ time, when it has bedded in, it will be beautiful and an appropriate place for people to come and pay their respects.”

Mike Henderson, Oxfordshire Royal British Legion chairman, said: “I think they are the right tree because of the different colours they give us throughout the seasons. It is the focal point of the repatriations and it will look spectacular fully grown.

“It brings a lot of comfort to the families – they have commented on how nice it is.”

He said creating the garden had been a real community effort, adding: “To be honest, I do not think we could do it any better.

“I am very proud of everyone that has had a part in it.”