The National Memorial Arboretum, in Staffordshire, has been awarded its second Green Flag Award, an international quality mark for parks and green spaces.
The 150-acre garden and woodland site, home to more than 400 memorials commemorating the service of the Armed Forces, emergency services and community and voluntary groups, was first recognised by the scheme in 2021 and in November it was voted as one of the public’s top ten most popular parks and garden spaces as part of the accompanying People’s Choice Awards.
Not content to rest on its laurels, the Arboretum has continued to seek ways to enhance the natural environment, including participating in “No Mow May” to provide habitats for pollinators, and creating a new herb garden for use by the site’s foodservices team, allowing them to cut food miles and reduce waste.
As part of a long-term vision to enhance seasonal colour and biodiversity, the Arboretum has also established two documented plant collections, and it is hoped that the Hamamelis (Witch Hazel) trees will be acknowledged as an official new National Collection within the next year.
Image courtesy of The National Memorial Arboretum