Prince to launch £8m arboretum bid

Prince William is to visit the National Memorial Arboretum (NMA) near Lichfield to launch an £8million appeal for it to become a world-famous centre for remembrance.

The prince will be at the site on April 24 to be formally invited to become the patron of the NMA Future Foundations Appeal tasked with raising £8 million to expand the infrastructure and a new education facility, veterans pavilion and a central space for major memorial services.

He will meet the National and Regional Appeal Councils tasked to raise the cash as well as families and friends of the people who are remembered on the site.

He will also visit some of the memorials including the War Widows’ Rose Garden, the Armed Forces Memorial and the Police Garden of Remembrance.

Andrew Baud, a spokesman for the arboretum, said: “Members of the public are welcome to be a part of this very special day and watch Prince William’s tour of some of the arboretum’s 150 memorials.

“Given the number of people expected to attend, and the additional security, the arboretum urges that everyone planning to visit allows plenty of time to get to and from the site. All visitors should aim to arrive on site no later than 2pm.”

The prince will also be visiting Staffordshire firm JCB’s world headquarters site in Rocester to mark the production of its 750,000th machine.

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