Pembroke Town Walls Trust needs the support of around 1,500 local people of all ages to come together on Saturday, November 19, at 12 noon, for a unique and significant event. They will encircle the 1.48km circumference of the old walled town and link hands to replicate the logo of the Trust - a crown of people holding hands.

This event, funded by the Big Lottery Celebrate Programme, will be followed by guided walks around the walls, including a Norman Walk led by Phil Carradice, the Pembroke Town Trail, a Nature Trail and a Junior History Detectives walk.

Tanyard Youth Project will be running a café at Foundry House Community Centre where there will be a presentation on the work of the Trust and their efforts to conserve the Pembroke town walls through outreach, restoration, and research.

Children will be able to secure sponsors at £1 each - not only to raise funds, but to raise awareness so that children and people of all ages, from all over the town understand the significance of the Trust’s work.

The Pembroke Town Walls Trust recognises that the repair of the town walls is only one aspect of a much wider vision, which would seek to improve the town’s desirability as a visitor destination as well as a place to live and work, and it needs to develop these visions with other local interest groups for the benefit of the community and the town.

The Trust wants to engage with the community to bring alive the significance of the walls, to promote their potential for the development of local skills, community cohesion, education and heritage, attracting tourism to benefit the local economy, and promoting sustainability and the use of local materials and resources.

The Trust is already developing a pilot project as an exemplar for their future work. This is to restore the walls surrounding the burgage garden behind the refurbished Tabernacle United Reformed Church in partnership with the Church and Pembroke 21C Community Association who are creating a garden within the walls to tell the story of Pembroke through time.

An education programme for local schools is being developed and a training programme in heritage building skills will be an outcome of the project.

Janet Drogan, chair of the Pembroke Town Walls Trust, said: “We hope that Link Hands Around the Walls will be supported by people of all ages, but most especially by the children. Conserving and preserving our history for future generations is important and every individual can make a big difference.

“It will be a unique opportunity to celebrate the heritage of our town and the historic stone walls first built by William de Valance to surround and protect the town and its castle in the 13th Century. It will help us to raise awareness of the significance of the walls locally and nationally.”

For further information or to take part look at the website www.pembroketownwallstrust.org.uk or at their Facebook page.