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# Expansion of the National Memorial Arboretum welcomed by council chief
- URL: https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/expansion-of-the-national-memorial-arboretum-welcomed-by-council-chief/
- Published: 2023-12-15T08:19:30.000Z
- Updated: 2023-12-15T08:19:40.000Z
- Description: The National Memorial Arboretum has been praised for work to create a new Covid memorial woodland.
- Author: Lichfield Live
- Tags: Alrewas, Politics, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-07-22 18:58, News

The National Memorial Arboretum has been praised for work to create a new Covid memorial woodland.

The centre for remembrance at Alrewas saw a planning application for the site given [the backing of Lichfield District Council’s planning committee](https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/plans-to-create-new-covid-19-memorial-woodland-are-backed-by-councillors/).

Cllr Doug Pullen, leader of the local authority, told a meeting of full council this week he was pleased to see the new woodland area move a step closer to becoming a reality.

> “I would like to congratulate the arboretum on the outstanding work they were doing to extend the National Memorial Arboretum.  
>  
> “We are so fortunate to have nation’s centre of remembrance in our district.  
>  
> “The work our officers have done to help with this extension has been exemplary.”  
>  
> Cllr Doug Pullen, Lichfield District Council

The new area will include water features, spaces for reflection, visitor facilities, a play area and a building providing meeting space.

Philippa Rawlinson, director of the National Memorial Arboretum, said:

> “As the nation’s year-round place to remember we were inundated with requests to create a new space for people to commemorate the incredible service and sacrifice made by key workers during the darkest of times and remember all those who lost their lives as a result of the pandemic.  
>  
> “This ambitious new remembrance space would be a fitting tribute to their service and sacrifice, complementing the Trees of Life glade dedicated earlier this year, and we are open to dialogue with large-scale funding partners, including the UK government, to enable the delivery of our full vision.”  
>  
> Philippa Rawlinson, National Memorial Arboretum