An Ever-Growing Memory: Nature, History and The National Memorial Arboretum
By Aine Ray, Fourth Year History and French
My dad has always been interested in history. I have fond childhood memories of spending Saturday afternoons walking around the National Memorial Arboretum- naturally, as everyone does! Growing up in the Midlands, more specifically in Lichfield, I never thought twice about the ever-expanding memory project down the road in the quiet village of Alrewas. Now, studying history and with a passion for memory studies, I guess I’m starting to understand where my dad was coming from! So, what is the National Memorial Arboretum? When and why was it set up? And how do nature and memory intersect to produce a new way of commemorating the past?
Arboretums are vast botanical collections traditionally made up of trees. The United States National Arboretum in Washington allows visitors to roam freely through a lush, leafy oasis. It was here that Commander David Childs CBE found his inspiration. In 1994, after also visiting the Arlington Cemetery, he made an appeal to the UK’s then-prime minister John Major. He advocated the country’s need for a national epicentre to remember lives lost and lived. His vision became a reality!
In 1996 planting began and the National Memorial Arboretum opened to the public in 2001. Today, the Arboretum is made up of over 25,000 trees and more than 400 memorials. One of which you may recognise is the ‘Armed Forces Memorial’, a striking tribute inspired by prehistoric Britain and ancient Rome. The white stone walls bear the names of individuals who have died in service or as a result of terrorism since the Second World War. Some panels are left empty, allowing space for an additional 15,000 names. This memorial, along with the many others at the Arboretum, provides a final resting place, particularly for those whose graves are unmarked or who rest far from home.
What renders the Arboretum as a site of memory so unique is its deep connection to nature. The website reads: ‘From the start it was seen as a place of joy where the lives of people would be remembered by living trees that would grow and mature in a world at peace’. The commemoration of the past resides alongside the falling autumn leaves and the blossom of spring. A new project, called the ‘Living Memorial’, further exemplifies this approach. It pledges to plant an additional 25 acres of trees in memory of key workers and those who died because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This memorial is not made of stone, nor is it static. Instead, it is dynamic, changing with the seasons and growing with future generations.
The National Memorial Arboretum redefines the way we traditionally think about remembrance. As I reflect on those childhood visits with my dad, I never fully appreciated the significance of this living memorial. This site and its deep connection to nature reminds us that the past is not unchanging but instead develops and grows with us into the future - just like the trees that fill the Arboretum.
Edited by William Budd