The National Memorial Arboretum was founded on the belief that a year-round national centre of Remembrance was needed here in the UK to ensure we never forget. From the outset, it was imagined as somewhere people could learn about inspirational stories of service and sacrifice. A place that would grow over time, just as memory does.
From planting in the late-1990s to opening to visitors in 2001, the Arboretum grew through the commitment of volunteers, a supportive Friends group, memorial holders and local communities. Memorials were added not through a single plan, but through acts of collective Remembrance.
As the landscape matured, so did the Arboretum's role. The dedication of the Armed Forces Memorial in 2007, firmly established the Arboretum as a national focal point of Remembrance, leading to a surge in visitor numbers.
Today, more than 300,000 people visit each year, including over 25,000 young people on learning visits. Some come with stories to remember. Others come to learn, to think, or simply be present in a place shaped by meaning.
Since 2003, the Royal British Legion has supported this wonderful place as its parent charity, providing long-term strategic guidance and investment. Together with volunteers, communities and partners, this has helped the site flourish as the Nation’s year-round place to remember.
As the site continued to develop, a £15.7m Remembrance Centre was constructed in 2016 with the support of RBL funds, providing much-needed visitor amenities, exhibition galleries and dedicated learning facilities.
RBL stewardship has ensured the Arboretum could grow and realise the ambitious vision of its founder Commander (Rtd) David Childs CBE. It has become a regular setting for major national moments of Remembrance. From Armistice Day commemorations to landmark events recognising service and sacrifice in civilian life, it is a space where private reflection and public Remembrance meet.
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In early 2026, the Arboretum and RBL fully integrated, marking the beginning of a new chapter and unlocking further investment to build on the £34 million provided since 2003.
In September 2026, the Arboretum will become the Royal British Legion National Remembrance Gardens.
The new name reflects 25 years of evolution and a future focused on participation, relevance and growth. As one organisation, we invite everyone not only to reflect, but to take an active part in Remembrance.
As the Royal British Legion National Remembrance Gardens, the site will be at the heart of RBL’s Remembrance work. From its central location in Staffordshire, it will continue to share inspirational stories of service and sacrifice by members of the Armed Forces, Emergency Services and civilian organisations.
The generosity of visitors will continue to support its evolving landscape, learning activities, events and partnerships, helping engage wider and more diverse audiences in Remembrance.
This is the next chapter. The Royal British Legion National Remembrance Gardens will continue to grow, with new memorials, new ways to participate and new reasons to visit. It will continue to remain true to its founder’s vision:
a living place of Remembrance, freely open to all.
“When the Arboretum was founded, my ambition was to create a living place of Remembrance, rooted in trees, offering a dedicated space to reflect on service and sacrifice for our nation. Over time, that vision has grown organically, shaped by those who cared for it and by the many communities who found meaning here.
Today, the site is defined not only by its trees, but by the sculptures, symbolic planting and gardens that together encapsulate the spirit of Remembrance.
In 2003, just a couple of years after opening to the public, the Royal British Legion became our parent charity. Since then, as custodians of the Arboretum, the RBL has provided the care, stewardship and investment needed to help the site flourish and truly become the nation’s year-round place to remember.
I am excited to see how this inspirational place will continue to grow and evolve in the next chapter of its journey.”
- Commander (Rtd) David Childs CBE, Arboretum Founder
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