VISITORS to the National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas are being asked to create ‘personal leaves’ for the newly-installed Memory Tree – a large outdoor sculpture for people to share their stories, objects and memories from the First World War.
Guided by Planet Art, which specialises in the design and creation of site specific artwork and commemorative pieces, visitors are invited to contribute their World War One family stories to the Memory Tree.
Julie Edwards, helping to deliver the project, said: “The ideas we want to draw on for the Memory Tree are personal family stories of those who fought or contributed to the war effort and we would urge people to bring along copies of photographs, extracts of letters, pieces of poetry, stories and artefacts which relate to World War One in any way and can be used to create the Memory Tree.”
Julie will be joined by Ron Thompson and the pair will spend a week as ‘Artists in Residence at the Arboretum’, which is part of The Royal British Legion family of charities, from Sunday, July 28 to Monday, August 4.
The pair will create the Memory Tree from various types of wood to act as a ‘hanger’ for visitors’ stories and memories in relation to World War One.
Julie added: “Like most people in the UK we have personal family stories regarding great grand-parents, aunts and uncles who died on battle fields in France or worked on the Home Front.”
For those who would like to contribute to the Memory Tree but are unable to visit the Arboretum in person, copies of the items to be added can be sent by post to the Arboretum before the Sunday, July 28 to: Memory Tree – Artists In Residence, National Memorial Arboretum, Croxall Road, Alrewas, Staffordshire DE13 7AR.
The Arboretum is open daily from 9am to 5pm and is free to enter, although donations are appreciated. It will be open until 9pm on Monday, August 4 for the WWI candlelit vigil.
For further information about the World War I Memory Tree project visit www.thenma.org.uk/events/events-calendar/calendar-of-events/world-war-i-artists-in-residence-project or call 01283 245100.
