16/04/2026
Outstanding news which reinforces our role as the UKs National Custodian of Remembrance
We are pleased to announce today that from September 2026 the National Memorial Arboretum will be known as the Royal British Legion National Remembrance Gardens.
The RBL has been the Arboretum’s parent charity since 2003, and the two charities recently merged as one. The name change is inspired by RBL’s vision to bring society together to recognise, remember, and support the Armed Forces community and reflects the site’s role at the centre of our Remembrance work.
Since it opened to the public 25 years ago, the destination has grown into a beautiful and inspiring place where everyone can celebrate lives lived and remember lives lost and welcomes more than 300,000 visitors each year. As part of our aims to evolve Remembrance and widen participation, the site will bring more people together to reflect, learn and remember service and sacrifice.
RBL National Remembrance Gardens describes a place that invites people in, not just to reflect, but to take an active part in Remembrance.
The Arboretum’s founder, Commander (Rtd) David Childs CBE, has expressed his strong support for the development, praising RBL for its stewardship of the site and how it has helped it flourish.
From a seed of an idea to the nation’s year-round place to remember, the Arboretum has been shaped by the people who care for it. That shared commitment from employees, volunteers, supporters and communities will continue as it enters its next chapter as the RBL National Remembrance Gardens.
