A CELEBRATION of peace will take place in Andover across Friday and Saturday with a double bill of events at Harmony Woods.

Andover Trees United has been invited by UN ambassador Jane Goodall to stage the Roots and Shoots Peace Day Procession ahead of International Day of Peace this weekend.

The procession will take place on Friday before a mass wildflower planting event on Saturday.

In attendance for the procession will be the Mayor of Test Valley Borough Council, Martin Hatley, plus the Lady Portal Deputy Lieutenant of Hampshire, as well as around 250 local school children.

Wendy Davis, projects coordinator at Andover Trees United, said: “Events such as this show the passion of our young people to make a difference in the world.

“They are very enthusiastic to join in and we want to support them in every way that we can.

“Taking action against climate change – the theme of this year’s Peace Day – is, after all, about their future.”

The Peace Day Procession is run in association with Roots and Shoots, a programme set up by Jane Goodall to make positive changes for communities, animals and the environment.

This will be the second successive year that Andover has been chosen to host its procession, making it the only UK location to be chosen twice.

“We are deeply honoured to host the Peace Day procession at Harmony Woods,” Wendy added.

“It does much to shine a spotlight on the work that we are doing, and we are immensely proud of the endorsement that the invitation from Dr Goodall and the Roots and Shoots team brings to our work.”

Following the Peace Day Procession, the wildflower planting day will take place at Harmony Woods from 9.45am until 3pm.

Andover Trees United has put out an open invitation to any volunteers or newcomers who wish to drop by and help with the planting.

Tea and cake, provided by the Travelling Cupcake, will also be on offer on the day.

For more information about both events search Andover Trees United on Facebook or go to andovertrees.org.uk