The Royal British Legion (RBL) will be ‘planting’ hundreds of crosses in the First World War Commemorative woodland at Queenswood Country Park and Arboretum over the Remembrance period leading up to Remembrance Sunday on 10th November 2019.

As the nation’s champion of Remembrance, the RBL are responsible for ensuring that Remembrance is understood, available to all, and passed on to future generations. From Saturday 26th October 2019, visitors to Queenswood will be able to see the RBL crosses in the First World War Commemorative woodland, at the centre of the Arboretum at Queenswood.

Rose Farrington, Queesnwood Country Park and Arboretum said:

“Many visitors will be planning to visit Queenswood to see the superb autumn colours during the October school half-term. Having the RBL memorial within the newly opened First World War Commemorative woodland will highlight this contemplative space and invite people to come and reflect on the contribution made by Queenswood and Herefordshire more widely over 100 years ago during the First World War.”

Earlier this year, on Armed Forces Day, the commemorative woodland and artwork at Queenswood was dedicated as a memorial to the First World War and is now open to the public as a space for contemplation and remembrance.

The artwork within the Commemorative Woodland at Queenswood is a living memorial communicating the legacy and impact of the Great War on communities, landscape and heritage of Herefordshire. Nationally renowned sculptor Des Hughes, whose studio is located in Herefordshire, was chosen to create a tree planting of concentric circles in the commemorative woodland and visitors to the woodland will see them growing and flourishing today.

Stephen Cole, Chairman Royal British Legion, Hereford City North Branch said:

“Each year, the Royal British Legion encourages the nation to come together to honour and remember the sacrifices made by the Armed Forces community, they remember those who lost their lives on active service in all conflicts; from the beginning of the First World War right up to the present day.”

The commemorative woodland and artwork have been developed with funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, several local grant funders and through a public fundraising appeal, as part of the Queenswood Heritage Gateway project.