In 2010, the Arboretum hosted Words and Willow for the third year. 

From Monday 21 June to Friday 16 July, greenwood artist Anthony Hammond was on site to work with school groups.

Students activities included creative writing, drawing, painting and willow sculpture, inspired by all they see at the Arboretum.

This was a cross-curricula project developed by Chase Technology College that involves students in 'hands on' creativity.

For more information and photos of the event, visit: www.wordsandwillow.co.uk

This was a Gifted and Talented (G&T) performance poetry project for young students. The project was funded by Study Support and aimed to extend the students speaking, listening and performance skills.

The project was delivered in partnership with advisors Bernie Carroll and Annette Fisher from Staffordshire County Council. Students worked with guides from the Arboretum and Charlie Jordan, a notable performance poet. The young poets enjoyed a whole day at the Arboretum and activities included a morning’s tour, act of Remembrance and a poetry workshop. The project continued at Wilnecote High School where invited visitors watched a performance and celebration of all poems.

The whole experience was captured on film and a book of the poems and photographs from the experience was presented to all the schools.

Forgotten Conflicts - Forgotten Stories 1939-2009

In partnership with Cambridgeshire, Staffordshire and Suffolk local authorities, the education department from the National Memorial Arboretum worked on a fantastic project with Year 9 Able, Gifted and Talented students.

The project spanned over an academic year and set out to promote key learning objectives in line with curriculum such as:

• learning outside the classroom
• diversity and cultural identity
• intergenerational learning
• active citizenship
• literacy (particularly writing to persuade and speaking & listening)
• cross-curricular planning (ICT, Geography, History, DT, English, RE)
• SEAL & PLTS (ie creative thinking, team workers and independent enquiry)
• enquiry based learning and critical thinking skills

The project concluded with a visit by schools from Staffordshire, Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the Arboretum, where the focus was on looking at how conflicts are remembered here.