Digging in – Reconstructing WWI Trenches – Pollok Park, GlasgowHome - Digging in - Reconstructing WWI Trenches

Trench Gardens

During the First World War, gardens were created by soldiers on both sides of the Western Front. They existed in all zones, from front lines…

30

May 2017

Digging In needs some volunteers to help keep the trenches in good order! Do you have time to spare? Are you looking to contribute your time and skills, ideas and talents to a project that seeks to i…

18

May 2017

Playing with The First World War

Playing is integral to human nature and in many senses it is through play that we learn about the world. Recognising the importance of video games as a modern cultural form, they should not be underes…

24

March 2017

Women in Engineering

Louise Bell’s is the Diverse histories researcher for the National Archives – in her second article for Digging In, she explores how the records of women in engineering can be used as a new lens to vi…

14

October 2016

The Wounded of WW1: Society and Rehabilitation

Louise Bell is researching the impact that war wounds of all kinds had on people and society during World War I. Caring for the wounded was a vital, complex process involving many people, institution…

Great War Stories

Willie Angus, footballer & hero

John Farrer, father & miner

Elsie Inglis, surgeon & suffragist

Ishobel Ross, serving up comfort in Serbia

Dorothy Lawrence, would-be war reporter

Upcoming Events

- Saturday, August 26th, 2017
- Glasgow
Creature Comrades: Animals in WW1

Creature Comrades Full Programme

Elephants, camels, oxen, horses cats, canaries, even slugs played a vital role on the front line. Join us at the trenches to find out more about the important and diverse work of animals through demonstrations, activities, displays and exhibits.
- Explore the many roles horses played in WW1 with the Pollok Park Clydesdales and our WWI blacksmith
- Learn about vital front line messengers, with a talk by Malcolm Moy @ 2pm and an all day showing of racing and fancy pigeons
- Hear the story of cavalry regiment the Royal Scots Greys, with an all day display and talk @ 1pm by Paul Newman, Assistant Curator of the Regimental Museum The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
- Decorate a pigeon glider with a secret message and see how far it flies on our training course.
- Discover the story of the real Winnie the Pooh and other wartime pets and mascots
Read more
- Sunday, August 27th, 2017
- Glasgow
Dogs of War

Dogs of War Full Programme

Dogs played crucial roles in WW1 as guards, sentries and scouts; they carried messages and medical supplies to wounded soldiers (casualty dogs) and did their best to rid the trenches of rats. They also provided psychological comfort for men trapped in the horrors of trench warfare. Join us to find out more about through storytelling, demonstrations and displays.

Pup friendly! (bring your dog – on a lead please)
- Find out more about the unique abilities of dogs that made them indispensable in WW1 at our dog show led by dog-training experts from charity Bravehound. Join in and put your pup through their paces! Registration from 12pm with dog show at 1.30pm.
- Hear about the RSPCA’s work to reduce animals’ suffering during the conflict and the impact WW1 had on animal welfare–there’s a talk @ 1pm by RSPCA staff
- Storytelling with Village Storytelling Centre @ 12.30pm, 1.30pm, 2:30pm, 3:30pm
- Make a canine companion – a pom-pom pup, or colour your favourite dog and make a badge.
- Plus, Digging In Doggy Bags!
Read more
See all our events

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Visitors to the trenches say...

Fantastic day, lovely and approachable guides. Thank you. - C. O'Connor

Excellent and very educational day. Really enjoyed the props, costumes and visual elements. Made the whole experience much more REAL. Has reignited my interest in the period. - B. Drawbridge

A great afternoon, enjoyed learning about the war. - Eilidh (age 6)

The re-enactors bring the reality of the war to the forefront in a very important and successful way. I had seen pictures of the trenches but they are incredibly powerful in real life. - C. Green

Excellent! I’ve learned more here today than I ever have done before because it was active. - Michelle

Very interesting stuff all together. Will spread the word. - Liam

Very interesting for all ages. Well worth a visit, will keep an eye on the website for future activities. - William, Ainsley & Kevin

Excellent, a lot of hard work. Good insight into life in the trenches. - M. & G.

Very interesting project, well laid out and presented - well worth the visit. - Steven & Bernie

Very well put together and interesting to see all the weapons. - J. White

What a fantastic project, very insightful, a great way to get a tiny feel for what our service men and women did for us. Thank you and keep up the excellent work. - A. & M. Wriey

A great project! Very eye opening and great to see what it would have been like - loved the artefacts. - K. Brown

Really fantastic re-creation, brings the past back to life. The children had an informative and educational experience which will stay with them. - R. Weeks

A fantastic and well thought out exhibition. Excellent for the wee ones. Good luck in the future. - L. Leggate

Excellent visual representation for everyone, particularly school children studying WW1. I teach deaf pupils and they would love this realistic, visual experience! - J. McDowell

Really excellent experience. Brings home the reality of the experience as far as is possible. Will keep on coming back to visit. - A. Larkin

Brilliant project, this is our second visit and lots changed. Thanks so much for bringing WW1 to life. - W. Peters

Thank you for this event - long may it continue, really fantastic opportunity to learn more about our history and the amazing men and women who all contributed. - Sarah

Came at Doors Open Day [2015] when under construction. Good to see the result. Kids loved it, looking forward to seeing even more of it come to life. - The Mackenzies

So interesting for this Scottish American to learn a bit of living history. Thanks! - C. McHardy

That was really interesting. Sparked lots of questions and thoughts about things I’d never contemplated before about trench warfare. Thank you. - B. Stevens

Seeing the trenches in 'real life' brings it all to life. Well done! - H. Pert

Great surprise - I took my three children in and they learnt loads about the reality of WW1. Thank you very much! - Eddie

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2017 events at the trenches

Latest Resources

The Scottish Women’s Hospitals

The Scottish Women’s Hospitals website is dedicated to keeping alive the memory of the SWH. It featu…
France & La Premiere Guerre Mondiale

A selection of links to some fantastic online resources for researching France’s experience of World…
Glasgow and World War I

Glasgow City Council’s First World War commemoration website is a mine of information on the many di…
Conscientious Objectors

Links to some key resources on the experiences of conscientious objectors.
Developments in medicine and trauma

How medics dealt with the mental and physical injuries soldiers sustained.

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Reconstructing World War 1 trenches

Despatches

30

May 2017

Volunteer!

18

May 2017

Playing with The First World War

24

March 2017

Women in Engineering

14

October 2016

The Wounded of WW1: Society and Rehabilitation

Great War Stories

Willie Angus, footballer & hero

John Farrer, father & miner

Elsie Inglis, surgeon & suffragist

Ishobel Ross, serving up comfort in Serbia

Dorothy Lawrence, would-be war reporter

The Scottish Women’s Hospitals

France & La Premiere Guerre Mondiale

Glasgow and World War I

Conscientious Objectors

Developments in medicine and trauma