Established on reclaimed quarry workings between the River Trent and the Tame, and now run by the Royal British Legion, the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire was created in 1997 with the help of the Millennium Commission.

The Arboretum, which is the national centre of remembrance for all those who have fallen in battle or have been killed by terrorists since the Second World war, attracts 300,000 visitors every year.

“It’s important to remember the sheer numbers of people who have died in service of the country, recognise the services that work for us and understand and respect our history,” says chief executive Charlie Bagot Jewitt.

The Arboretum places special emphasis on its work with schools, helping pupils of all ages develop a deeper understanding on the impact of conflict and the importance of remembrance through a range of activities, tours and walks around the site.

“When you see the names on the walls of the Armed Forces Memorial you realise that each one was a real person with dreams and ambitions who selflessly tried to make things better for others”

Charlie Bagot Jewitt is especially enthusiastic about the Arboretum’s commitment to work with children. “I think this is as powerful as anything we do – you realise how sites like this can get through to people of all ages,” he says.

• The Armed Forces Memorial contains the names of 16,000 servicemen and women killed on duty or by terrorist action since the end of the Second World War