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Who We Are

Open for visitors!

The National Memorial Arboretum is open freely to all, year-round from 10am-5pm, every day except Christmas Day.  We recommend pre-booking your visit, to guarantee entry.

Please note: on Wednesday 28 July the North part of the site (which includes, but is not limited to, the Royal British Legion Poppy Field, Allied Special Forces Memorial Grove and the memorials and individual dedications in the areas surrounding them and the UK Police Memorial) will be closed to visitors until approximately 2.30pm, whilst a private dedication ceremony takes place at the UK Police Memorial.  The new memorial will be open to visitors from Thursday 29 July. There will also be limited access to the memorials on the Naval Review until the service has ended at 2.30pm. We will be unable to offer our Stick Man Trail, Outdoor Escape Challenges and Our Everyday Heroes activity packs on Wednesday 28 July. We apologise for any inconvenience this causes.

Pre-book your visit

We are a UK registered charity and 150-acre visitor site on the edge of the National Forest in Staffordshire. Part of the Royal British Legion, but a separate legal body, we exist to ensure that:

  • the unique contribution of those who have served and sacrificed is never forgotten
  • the baton of Remembrance is passed on through the generations
  • there is a year-round space to celebrate lives lived and commemorate lives lost.

 

The Arboretum welcomes over 300,000 visitors to site each year, including over 20,000 young people for formal and informal learning visits. Visitors can enjoy discovering almost 400 memorials nestled amongst some 25,000 trees, experience riverside walks and participate in a wide variety of daily activities: guided walks, land train tours, memorial talks, exhibitions and buggy tours.

 

Each year around 250 events take place on site, from small intimate services of Remembrance to set piece events like Armistice Day, Remembrance Sunday, a summer proms and Armed Forces Day.

Who We Are 

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Our Story

Discover more about the history and origins of the National Memorial Arboretum.

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FRONT OF REMEMBRANCE CENTRE

Governance

The Arboretum is part of the Royal British Legion, but operates with a separate Board of Trustees and independent charity status (No 1043992).

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A orange butterfly on purple flowers

Sustainability

As an Arboretum, maintaining a green environment is something we care passionately about.

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Aspects Event Building

Awards

We are very proud of the experience that we provide those who visit us. We have been recognised for our work both independently and alongside some of the organisations we work with.

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Ride to the Wall

Sponsors and Supporters

As a charity we rely on the generous support of our donors, supporters and sponsors. We could not survive without them.

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Our 20th Anniversary Year

Since our official opening twenty years ago, the Arboretum has grown into an inspirational living landscape where families, friends and comrades can celebrate lives lived and remember lives lost. Find out more about how we are marking our anniversary by clicking the button below
The Arboretum at 20
Image of the Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces Memorial

Our Memorials

Full of symbolism, the memorials and gardens are there to tell the stories of those remembered. On visiting you will be fascinated by the wide range of memorials on site: some military, some for specific campaigns, some for the emergency services, along with tributes for civilians.

Discover More About Our Memorials
Names on the Armed Forces Memorial

A Very Special Place

"Every time I attend the Armed Forces Memorial, I remember my four friends on the wall. I only touch one name, because I never said goodbye when she said goodbye to me on the day we lost her." Michael, Arboretum Volunteer