In remembrance

Today we set out on our travels for a week's walking in the Yorkshire  Dales. We stopped for a break at the National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas Staffs, near Lichfield, sited conveniently  for us, just  off the A38. We had  visited once before in 2008, and since then the site has been developed hugely with an excellent visitors' centre and extensive learning resources. The main photo shows the centrepiece  war memorial which commemorates British service personnel who have given their lives in conflicts since 1945. It is very sobering  to see so many names there.  

The extra is the UK Police Memorial. The plaque beside it explains that  the "portal represents the  threshold to the dangerous places that the Police go to protect us. Some never return. The  threshold leads to a garden, a place  of peace and remembrance. The gilded apertures signify absence, loss and the  courageous sacrifice of the fallen."

There are lots of other smaller  memorials, mostly  to specific groups of the  uniformed services, but also to individuals, all set in lovely woodland beside the river  Tame.  
  
Lots of big events, mostly reunions,  take place here and we were told it is wise to book ahead to be sure of being admitted. We were  lucky to turn up on a quiet day. 

Our destination tonight was Bakewell in the  Peak District.

Back blipped  photos from our holiday  in the Yorkshire dales