We welcome all feedback and look forward to hearing from you. Please leave us your comments, thoughts and suggestions. To help improve the National Memorial Arboretum, for you and future visitors to enjoy, please complete our online visitor survey, and tell us about your visit to the Arboretum.

Please note that messages are moderated and may take up to a few days to appear on the site.

• The NMA is one of the most peaceful places I have visited! I had never been before my brother’s name was sculpted on the wall, and now it’s a place I feel I will keep coming to again and again to pay my respects! The SANDS garden also holds a special place in my heart! Well Done to all the staff who work there and continue to make it the unique and relaxing place it is!
  29/04/2013
  Laura Burgan
• Why did I leave it so long to make my first visit? .... will be back shortly as only got to visit a small number of the memorials on Friday.
  07/10/2012
  Sue Chester
• The NMA is a very beautiful poignant & tranquil place that lives & breathes respect. For some years now we have visited once every 3 months. However since shortly after March 2011 we have made a regular vist of once a month at times twice for reasons very close to our hearts. Lest we forget. We have a very special person named on the Wall of Remembrance and our angels in the garden of SANDS. Forever loved forever remembered forever Young. X Quis Separabit.
  03/10/2012
  Colette Linden
• Always enjoy visiting. What a beautiful place. The SANDS garden is particularly special for those who have lost children before or after birth. Thank you for all the volunteers who give up their time to maintain the grounds and act as guides.
  03/10/2012
  Lynn
• Have visited the Arboretum twice and it is a great place to pass the day and reflect on times gone by when I served with the RAF.
  03/10/2012
  Yvonne & Bill Rigby
• Been to the Arboretum on numerous occasions and never fail to find the peace and quiet I am seeking. The grounds are always at the peak of condition according to the season. Well done to all concerned.
  03/10/2012
  Mick Webster
• We visited last week, what a wonderful place. The attention to detail was amazing. It was lovely to see groups of school children visiting as well. Will definitely be back.
  30/09/2012
  Mary & Trudy
• Visited to see the Sands gardens to remember my two stillborn babies, Christopher & Abigail. However, the whole place was an inspiration and made me feel very humble. My two children 13 & 7 were full of questions and now have a better appreciation for everyone, past and present who have died for their country. Thank you
  02/09/2012
  Sheryl Sheppard
• The site prompts of reflective thoughts, but on a very practical level - given that it is part of the National Forest - I noticed that some of the dedicated trees had labels screwed into the tree. This is not good practice and unnnecessary as labels can be hung from branches without damage.
  17/08/2012
  Paul Walker
• What a great place to pass the day and reflect on times gone by with fallen colleagues.
  
  Rest well guys your duty is over, Lest we Forget
  26/07/2012
  Martin Avins ex Royal Corps of Signals
• What a wonderful peaceful place. So moving and so special. Enjoyed our visit last week and we were so lucky to have a sunny day! Well done to everyone involved with the National Memorial Areboretum
  09/07/2012
  Chris Bown
• Visited today , a beautiful and fitting tribute to our fallen. Very much enjoyed this humbling experience. Well done and thankyou to the organisers and staff for making this happen.
  25/06/2012
  Stuart H
• Dear All,
  
  Good to see so many messages commending the arboretum and its fine staff. Keep up the good work as we will in the Allied Special Forces Grove.
  
  Regards,
  
  Mike Colton, Secretary
  Allied Special Forces Association
  30/04/2012
  Mike Colton
• My wife & I visited today, WELL DONE, so many names . . so many names, military and civil organizations . . . . .the most sobering aspect is that there is so much room made for the dead of further wars - to me that aspect heart was breaking. At last we now have somewhere to mourn our losses . . . and the best incentive in the world to jor jor jor not war war war.
  08/04/2012
  Charles Marshall
• What a wonderful day spent at the Memorial. Staff very helpful, food great. 
I feel it would help if there were larger plaques of the groups of numbers in a specific area, then using the map would be easier.
  08/03/2012
  David Willcox
• We visited yesterday. A few of us as ex service and my husband, still serving in the RAF. It is a truly amazing place. I found it a humbling and privileged experience. The grounds and memorials are beautiful. The Arboretum must give peace and comfort to so many. We will be visiting again soon. Well done.
  04/12/2011
  Sarah Everitt
• I visited the National Memorial Arboretum yesterday (3rd Dec 2011) with a friend over from America. We were both very impressed, and much moved. The NMA is a wonderful memorial to our nation's fallen and gives us, the casual visitor, a chance to pay our respects again. I look forward to returning.
  13/11/2011
  Adrian Rayson
• This is truly a place to reflect on us all.
  10/11/2011
  Alexander Fitzgeorge
• Remembering at this time members of HMS FORMIDABLE who did not come home and members who have recently passed away. 
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM
  03/10/2011
  C B DAVIES
• Ride To The Wall, i feel humble writing this message because today I stood with thousands of bikers young & old, standing there & hearing the stories of how our war HEROES have died, they gave their lives for our freedom & they continue to do it. I am proud to be British & I am so proud of the men & women that fight for our freedom. Thank You all, the ones that gave their lives & the ones that continue to fight. You have my respect & support & love
  26/09/2011
  Hayley Lees
• A wonderful place to reflect on times past and to remember my service pals; lost for ever, but never forgotten.
  09/09/2011
  Graham Chambers
• We have recently returned home from a visit to the Arboretum, in our hearts we took part of it home with us along with love and respect for all those souls represented there. It would be impossible not to be moved by the peaceful repose of the grounds and its natural beauty. 
We will be returning again to pay homage to those who gave so much that we could walk in freedom. May the healing love and friendship of brotherhood and sisterhood be within us all. Thank you for a warm and wonderful place to visit.
  07/09/2011
  Shirley-Anne Hunter
• This was a wonderful place to visit, could not get round all of it in one day, so will be going back. The staff was so helpful, we needed a wheelchair for my mum and they got us one, she is 84 yrs old so she got to see most things as well. Thank you for the experience.
  29/07/2011
  Georgette Mason
• A very lovely and serene place, the RAF memorial was special for me and I will definitely be back
  26/07/2011
  Terry Bell
• I only found out about this on week before I was meant to come to England from Australia for a holiday. I made a detour to visit the memorial. Well worth the trip. 

The monument to the Polish sailors/soldiers/airmen/codebreakers/underground was very moving and portrayed the effort and sacrifice the Polish soldiers made during the Second World War. 

The saddest part was seeing all the blank space on the Armed Forces Monument. One wishes that that space will remain blank, but the fact is that new names will have to be added.
  20/05/2011
  Maddie, Australia
• I was visiting from New York and was lucky enough to have one of my relatives take me on a tour of the Arboretum. It was so moving. Thank you
  22/04/2011
  Jennie Amendola
• We visited the Arboretum on our way back from holiday last week, having seen the signs from the road. My father had lost a friend to the IRA and I knew that his name was carved on the wall, so have always wanted to visit to see for myself. Even though we arrived 30 minutes before closing, the staff and volunteers were able to tell me not only where his name was carved, but also that a tree had been planted in his name in the Ulster Ash Grove. Tony Matthews, one of the volunteers, kindly took myself and my daughter to both the tree and the memorial, where I found myself more moved than I ever expected to be. I can't thank Tony and the staff enough for allowing me the time to say a short goodbye. I hope to return with my father soon to show him how his friend is remembered. Thank you again, you are all doing wonderful work.
  05/04/2011
  Helen
• As ex serviceman (RAF Regiment) I was very much 
affected by the vision of the Basra Wall Memorial. I have lived in Australia for over 40 years & every time I hear of "one of our lads" being killed or wounded, it makes me so sad for the families & friends who have lost a loved one. I feel deeply for the mates in the units who served with these lads, It brings back memories of great mateships I had whilst in the forces. This memorial is a wonderful means of keeping all of our service people in mind. Take care lads & look out for your mates!
  06/03/2011
  Ron Grant
• I have just seen the memorial arboretum featured in the TV programme My Dad's Army. What an astoundingly beautiful place and a wonderful site for those suffering grief and loss to come and remember their loved ones.
  12/02/2011
  
• A wonderful experience. Something new every visit, so much to reflect on.

  29/01/2011
  
• What a moving experience, we actually found Hazel's father's name, he went down with HMS Affray. Serving or Ex. everyone should visit, outstanding.
  09/01/2011
  Eric Meighan
• Our short visit this afternoon (Jan. 9th) was made extremely interesting by the helpful and informative guides. Thank you. It is clear they enjoy being there.
  07/01/2011
  Sandra
• An amazing place. Have visited several times and taken part in the Walk to the Wall and there is still so much to see & experience here. It means so much to so many - long may it continue.
  13/12/2010
  L Wilkinson
• How you are going forward, but still remembering our heroes be they military or civilian whether they be family or friends or strangers their spirit will be with us always in this living breathing memorial. Please keep the good work going.
  13/12/2010
  Alan
• What a truly lovely website, i do so hope to visit there one day.
  24/11/2010
  Pat Ann Carpenter
• The NMA is a place everyone should experience, events that help support new memorials like The Abandoned Soldier (which I had the pleasure of viewing recently) and the many other great and small, public and personal memorials are a fantastic idea. I would encourage everyone to visit, well worth the time.
  17/11/2010
  Cathy McMichael
• Yesterday was my first visit to the Arboretum. Like most military personnel I have good memories of my friend whos name has been honoured on the wall. Thank you for the dedication that has been taken in the remembrance of our armed forces.
  08/11/2010
  Matt Hodgetts
• I would like to thank you all for the lovely day I had on sunday you were all so warm and helpful. It was a very moving expeirence, one that will stay with me always. Keep up the good work god bless you all
  31/10/2010
  Jane Caines
• As another Autumn is upon us another year I have lived that three old comrades did not. I only hope that I lived up to what they may have achieved. Lives taken so young but to me as a young man seemed so mature and who we looked up to. To see the names on the wall brings memories flooding back. Great men, real men who will never be forgotten. The Memorial Arboretum keeps the memories alive and our reasons for trying to be good people at the front of our thoughts.
  26/09/2010
  Dominic Withington
• I visited today and was most impressed by the National Memorial Arboretum, its volunteers and its facilities.
  21/09/2010
  Ian Riley
• I stumbled upon this site via Facebook and was pleasantly surprised to find that this place existed!! I think that it needs to be advertised more so even more people can find it and especially schools so that the future generations learn about the past and why we are living in a FREE British Land. 
RESPECT Freely given to all the troops Past, Present and Future.
  15/09/2010
  Lee Moss
• My wife and I have visited many times. It is a moving experience every time we visit.
  13/09/2010
  Mr Colin Stinson
• My first visit on Sunday 12 Sept and I was overwhelmed by the size and the beauty of the place. The Scottish piper bought a tear to my eye, I wish my dad could have seen this, he served in Italy and Egypt in the second world war. Well done to all involved in this venture
  13/09/2010
  Kath Cooper
• I came with my sister is memory of my dad who we lost in n.ireland. We feel like he's finally made it - valued along with men of WW1 and WW2. An amazing place. We felt him with us.
  11/08/2010
  Paul Johnston
• While only in its second year, this event has captured the public's imagination and it has become a fantastic way in which bikers can show their great respect for those that serve in the Armed Forces. I was moved by the huge number of people involved and I know that such shows of support mean much to Service men and women and their families.
  05/08/2010
  Major General Lamont Kirkland CBE
• I visited for the first time today in what was both a hugely moving and humbling experience. However I was saddened to see the rather small and distant memorial to the RAMC in relation to the others.
  10/07/2010
  Sarah
• Such a moving and touching place to visit. So proud of all forces in the job they are doing.
  10/07/2010
  Kathryn
• A moving and inspirational visit - thank you
  04/07/2010
  Ann
• What a marvelous place. Well done.
  26/06/2010
  Dave Harford
• Thouroughly enjoyed our time spent at the NMA. A fitting tribute to all our fallen heroes & comrades from all branches of the armed forces and those who usually go unmentioned who play a huge part. 
Very pleasent and helpful staff and volunteers made for a memorable day. Keep up the good work. LEST WE FORGET.
  20/06/2010
  Nigel Barnes
• I visited the NMA on Father's Day 2010, as a treat to him, with both of us being veterans, and also brought my 4 year old son along. We had an absolutely fantastic day which was enjoyed by all, with emotions from both ends of the spectrum from all. We visited friends we had lost and both vowed to return again. What a truly brilliant facility for all to experience, learn from, release emotions and captivate one's mind from. We will return.
  07/06/2010
  Matthew Beaumont
• Thanks to your hard work, we the families have a place to go and remember our loved ones. Also for the nation to pay respect to our fallen heroes one and all. If only the public at large knew what our brave lads & lasses face on a daily basis they might get more support to do their jobs and come home safely.
  31/05/2010
  gbeynon-fisher
• Our first visit to the Arboretum and will be the first of many. Such a tranquil place and so many moving tributes. Absolutely beautiful
  19/04/2010
  Val Gilbert
• Although we had no personal memorial to visit, it gave us the opportunity to pay our respects to great service men and women in wonderfully calm and beautiful surroundings. An outstanding place to visit with excellent guides to give greater understanding.
  08/04/2010
  Cynthia
• The NMA has come a long way since I first saw that twinkle in David Childs' eyes back in 1994, and I have not returned to the developed site until this year. I never doubted his determination to see the project through. Long may this remarkable memorial continue to grow both on the ground and in people's awareness.
  26/03/2010
  Tim Sporne (ex Redland)
• What a lovely website!
  25/03/2010
  Lisa
• The Basra Memorial Wall is hugely significant for the families of those who fell during operations in Iraq, and for those who served alongside them.
  24/03/2010
  Minister of State for the Armed Forces Bill Rammel
• I hope the Basra Memorial Wall will provide a place for people to come together and pay tribute to those remarkable men and women who gave their lives setting Iraq on the path to stability and prosperity.
  24/03/2010
  
• Excellent – a living memorial.
  24/03/2010
  
• A wonderful facility and extremely enthusiastic staff.
  24/03/2010
  
• The trees mean so much ... to many they are just trees, but to us they are our friends and our comrades.
  24/03/2010
  
• A surprising and moving experience. Well worth a return visit.
  24/03/2010
  Robyn Goodman

 

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