The National Memorial Arboretum (NMA) at Alrewas in Staffordshire covers 150 acres of land. It is well worth a visit. There are over 400 memorials as well as 25,000 trees. It was officially opened in 2001, but planting had started in 1996. I visited, once more, in November 2025. The main purpose of the visit was to check on the health of one particular tree. My Father made a donation to the National Memorial Arboretum Appeal in August 1996. He asked for a tree to be planted dedicated to the memory of his brother William. (see ‘VE Day – Patrick’s perspective’ and ‘A tale of two squadrons’) His donation was acknowledged, with a planting date to be notified. A few years ago, when I first visited, we had trouble finding the right tree. I expected to find a sizeable tree. What we found was a sapling. Clearly this was not the original tree. Furthermore, the sapling was dead. The current tree is, at minimum, the third one.
The staff at the NMA are very helpful. I had a map to show me exactly where to find the tree. Knowing the location is not the same as reaching it. As the photo shows, I would have needed waders to get close.
The site is mainly bordered on the eastern side by the River Tame heading north. Its confluence with the River Trent is in the north eastern corner. Heavy rain a couple of days earlier had resulted in significant flooding. The site had been forced to close the day before as water started covering the entrance road. The land was formerly a quarry and had been donated by the previous owners, a noble gesture in many ways. But it is not ideal ground for growing trees. William’s tree is in the RAF section of the NMA, and this part is closest to the river.
I will have to return at a later stage when the floodwaters have receded.