Armed Forces Weekend

Armed Forces Day is the Nation's chance to show support for the people who make up the Armed Forces community: from currently serving personnel to their families, veterans and cadets.


A young girl climbing on a climbing wall on Armed Forces Day in 2018

What's On

At the Arboretum, we will be marking this event across two days, with a range of fun interactive family activities.

Heroes' Square Stage

Live music from our Talent in the Ranks artists will soundtrack our celebrations; you'll be able to listen to lots of fantastic performances from aspiring singers, songwriters, and poets from within the Armed Forces community.

 

All-female chorus The Heath Belles will be taking audiences on a musical journey through time with sets filled with nostalgic tunes from decades past. 

On Saturday 27 June we will be joined by our Friends from Ride to the Wall. The Ride to the Wall team will be presenting the Arboretum with a donation representing the proceeds from the most recent Ride to the Wall held in October 2025.

 

Family Activities

There will be a whole host of FREE activities for the whole family to enjoy on both Saturday 27 & Sunday 28 June:

Family Zone
Bouldering Wall
Soft play area
Arts & crafts -11am - 3pm
Interactive family storytelling 

Adrenalin Zone
Climbing wall
zipline
Free airdrop bag
Assault course 
Army, Navy, RAF outreach activities

Static Displays

 

Military Vehicle Trust
Explore a display of historic military vehicles curated by our friends from the Military Vehicle Trust. 


Women at War

Learn more about the work of Army nurses and British military medicine in the Second World War. Women at War will be remembering and sharing the experiences of Army nurses during the Second World War. Explore the display of historic artefacts and uniforms or join a free drop-in talk throughout the day.  

 

Briggs Equipment UK

Visitors can enjoy a host of activities delivered by our event sponsor Briggs Equipment UK including a tombola and their ever-popular forklift basketball. On Saturday 27 June the Briggs Equipment UK therapy dogs will also be spreading cheer at our celebrations. 

 

25 Years Of...

In 2026, we will mark 25 years since the Arboretum officially opened to the public. Throughout the year, we’ll be celebrating the stories, milestones, and moments that have shaped our story so far, as we look to the future, with a special programme of exciting exhibitions, events and activities. 

  • 25 Years Of... Outdoor Trails for adults and younger visitors featuring memorials and landmarks significant to our developing story.
  • 25 Years Of... Celebrating Women, an anniversary exhibition exploring the history of the Arboretum through the experiences of 25 remarkable women who have played an important role in its development.


Planning your visit? Watch our Armed Forces Day 2024 Video for a flavour of what to expect.
RAF STEM Team at Armed Forces Day 2022

Plan Your Day

Our free family friendly Armed Forces Weekend activities, sponsored by Briggs Equipment UK, include live musical performances, military vehicle displays, drop-in activities and much more... The Arboretum's Restaurant, Coffee Shop and Shop will also be open throughout the weekend. Please don't forget to leave time to explore the Arboretum grounds, there are 150-acres, and more than 420 memorials to discover on the way. 
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Accessibility

We aim to cater for the needs of all our visitors and try to accommodate all access requirements where possible. A limited number of mobility scooters and wheelchairs are available to hire at the Arboretum each day and are often used by our visitors to explore our site. Mobility scooters can be hired for a daily charge and a wheelchair for a donation of your choice. 

 

A number of accessible toilets can be found in the Remembrance Centre, as well as a Changing Places toilet

 

Assistance dogs are allowed in all areas of the Arboretum. 

Book Tickets


Due to expected high visitor numbers, advanced booking is recommended to guarantee entry over Armed Forces Weekend.

Book Here
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