THE Vale of Glamorgan Council is joining people around the Country to mark the first National Covid Memorial Day.

Today, March 23, is exactly one year since Wales entered its first lockdown due to coronavirus and the date on which annual commemorations are set to take place.

For the first of these events, 40 iconic buildings around Wales will be lit in yellow at 5pm, and a two-minute silence held at noon, as an act of remembrance to those that have lost their lives to Covid.

The council’s Penarth Pier Pavilion, Western Shelter, Hood Road Tunnel and Barry Town Hall will all be illuminated in that colour as a show of respect.

A memorial orchard of cherry, plum and apple trees is being planted at Porthkerry Country Park, where a memorial bench has also been installed, for people to visit and reflect on the pandemic.

Cllr Neil Moore, Leader of the Vale of Glamorgan Council, said: “The last 12 months have seen the world change in ways we could never have envisaged as Covid-19 wreaked havoc across the globe. 

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"At the start of 2020, none of us could have imagined what lay in store and how profoundly our lives were about to be effected. 

“All of us have been significantly impacted by coronavirus and, sadly, many of us have lost loved ones to this terrible disease.

“There is reason to be optimistic about the future, with large scale vaccination offering hope that life can return more to normal before too long.

“But, while we look forwards with hope, it is also important we remember the human cost of the pandemic.”

Donations of trees will also be made to town and community councils in the Vale when the planting season resumes in the autumn.

Rob Thomas, Vale of Glamorgan Council Managing Director, said: “Thousands of people have lost their lives to Covid-19 in Wales, with many more becoming seriously ill, and that fact should never be forgotten.

“As a mark of respect, we will observe a two-minute silence and light up Council buildings in yellow today.

“We also plan to create a more permanent commemoration at Porthkerry Country Park and will provide our town and community councils with trees so they can plan for their own memorials.”