The National Memorial Arboretum was familiar to me from the media coverage but for some strange reason I thought it was in East Anglia...just where do I get my misinformation from one wonders!! Thankfully my Mama knew better and if it hadn't have been for her I would have missed this completely.
The Arboretum was opened to the public in May 2001 and is built on reclaimed gravel workings. It now has 50000 trees planted within its grounds. It is not a cemetery nor is it solely a memorial to those who have died in battle. There are 200 memorials commemorating a wide variety of people who have died in service e.g the police as well as charities e.g. Road Peace representing those who have lost their lives in traffic accidents.Interestingly the oldest memorial is a scheduled 3000 year old Bronze age burial mound which cannot be planted with trees- instead wild flower seeds have been scattered over and around it. The place is incredibly moving- the Shot at Dawn memorial is the first place to be touched by the new light of dawn. It is free entry.
This is the war memorial to those who have died in active service since the Second World War and is probably the image most will recognise. The sun comes through the open door at 11am on 11th November.
This is dedicated to the WRNS- my Auntie was a WRN so resonated with me.
This one gives you an overview of some of the different styles of memorial.
Personal poignant memorials to loved ones
To ex Jewish service men and women
And finally a couple taken in the information centre.
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