£150k appeal to give National Memorial Arboretum garden honouring Anne Frank a makeover

The children were guests of Home EdVenturers, an events group offering educational activities for home educated children and their families. They participated in a learning activity day, creating art and poetry honouring the Jewish war time diarist Anne and her impact on the world at the grounds near Lichfield. 

They also led the annual blossom cutting ceremony in the attraction's Garden of the Innocents which is the subject of a £150,000 fundraising appeal to cover the costs of restoring it.

Every year the blossom is removed from the central elder tree planted in her memory to ensure that it never bears fruit as a symbol of Anne being prevented from reaching maturity.

In 1947 her father published The Diary of Anne Frank. It became a worldwide best seller, chronicling the hopes and dreams of the generations who were wiped out by the Nazi regime.

The arboretum's head of learning Rachel Smith said: "Every year we welcome tens of thousands of young people helping us to pass the baton of remembrance to the next generation. 

“The story of Anne Frank is just one of thousands of inspirational tales encapsulated within our more than 420 memorials. While thankfully most of the young people visiting the arboretum have not endured the horrors of living in a war zone, many of them naturally feel a special connection to Anne Frank and the other children whose lives were tragically cut short and are commemorated in the Garden of the Innocents.”

“It is one of our oldest memorials and we now need support from businesses and the wider public to fund its refurbishment. Donations to our fundraising campaign will allow us to renew the garden, helping preserve the stories within, alongside supporting the upgrade of other children’s facilities that encourage families and learning groups to visit.”

To support the appeal visit thenma.org.uk/innocent.