Arboretum prepares to welcome its millionth visitor with VIP tour and membership of NMA Friends
The rededication of the Basra Memorial Wall and recent brighter weather has led to a surge in visitor numbers at the Royal British Legion’s National Memorial Arboretum. It is now anticipated that, nine years after opening, late May will see the Arboretum welcome its millionth visitor.
From 2001 to 2006, visitor numbers were below 70,000 a year however the dedication of the Armed Forces Memorial, in the presence of Her Majesty the Queen in October 2007, led to the figures doubling in two consecutive years to the current level of around 300,000 per annum.
The millionth visitor to the Arboretum will receive a special surprise including a VIP tour of the Arboretum by the site’s chief executive and a year’s membership of the NMA Friends.
Arboretum chief executive, Charlie Bagot Jewitt, said: “In less than a decade the Arboretum’s come a long way. Evidenced in part by achieving this milestone, we’re now making real progress towards creating a world-renowned centre for Remembrance.
“Our staff and volunteers have put in a huge amount of effort to get us this far and we did not want this milestone to pass by unnoticed. We’ve kept an accurate record of visitor numbers from day one and look forward to being able to confer the honour of being the millionth person through the door on an unsuspecting visitor.”
For more information:
Andrew Baud, Royal British Legion
07775 715775
andrew.baud@talapr.co.uk
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