'LEST they be forgotten' is a phrase that has certainly been taken to heart by villagers of Northlew, when it comes to remembering next year's centenary of the start of the first world war.

They are hoping to plant a staggering two million poppies all the way along the edge of the highway from Northlew to Okehampton — seven miles in distance and on both sides of the road.

Each of the distinctive crimson and black flowers will commemorate a fallen servicemen who fell during the Great War, when millions lost their lives — and in particular honour the 24 from Northlew who lost theirs. Significantly, although a small village, Northlew lost more servicemen proportionately than anywhere in the country.

Chris Marson, the owner of Northlew Village Stores, who initiated the project said in order to honour such a massive sacrifice of life that 'nothing small will do'. 

'It will be the longest poppy avenue in the world with an estimated two million poppies. This will be formed later this year by villagers and hopefully some soldiers from the camp in Okehampton.

'We aim to run the avenue into Okehampton where we will also get the local shops to have poppies in window displays and hanging baskets to make people question their relevance outside the usual 11/11 (November 11) ceremonies as obviously this is about the start of the war — not the end, where that date celebrates the fact that people lives become more safe and better.'

Part of the road out of Northlew is also in a direct line to Flanders which makes the project all the more symbolic.

Mr Marson told the Times: 'This is not about just looking back and paying your respects by perhaps standing for a few minutes at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day on the eleventh month.

'By creating an avenue of poppies and driving along the road for 15 minutes and seeing something so visual it becomes more significant.'

But the avenue of poppies is only part of the ambitious plans by villagers.

An outdoor service on the evening of July 28, 2014 at 9pm is scheduled to be held in the village square. In the twilight, houses surrounding the square will be illuminated with projected moving videos of the war, highlighting the bombing, life in the trenches and the after effects such as shell shock and living with disability caused by the conflict.

There will be thought provoking trench poetry and the evening will end in images of fields of poppies swaying in the wind and the words 'We will remember them'.

They are even hopes that Prime Minister David Cameron will accept an invitation to a special service on the day at St Thomas of Canterbury Church, Northlew.

Organisers hope to plant a Canadian Oak which, while not English, goes a blood red colour around the time of Armistice Day on November 11.

It is also planned to open a small community museum where people can look at first world war uniforms, weapons, food and hear narrations of real experiences of the war.

Northlew villager Lyn Taylor told the Times: 'It certainly is a different way to remember those who died. It is quite an undertaking and an ambitious project and I wish them all the best. I am certainly with them in spirit.

One of those supporting the initiative is Central Devon MP Mel Stride.

He writes in his weekly column in the Times this week: ' I am always struck by the number of names engraved on the memorials in our small towns and villages – names that are typically those of established local families.

'Sadly, of course the Great War was not, in the end, to be "the war to end all wars" – its tragic destiny was to fall way short of that noble promise – it was instead to be remembered as the conflict that truly wasted a generation.'

'Next year in Northlew I hope to join Chris and the local community for a moment of quiet reflection and the simple resolve that we should never forget.'

Around 50 people will be needed to undertake the project. If anyone would like to help, please contact Chris at [email protected]">[email protected]