6^th September 2011

 

Nottingham, Leicester, and Walsall Branches of BLESMA

 

Day trip to the National Arboretum, Alrewas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The day started as the Sharpes Coach arrived at the Royal Centre to collect members from the Nottingham Branch, after checking everyone had arrived and was on the coach, off we went to Leicester to pick up their branch members, this made a nice change for everyone with new people to get to know during the journey to the National Arboretum.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When we arrived we all got together with the Walsall branch members and the BLESMA representative at the arboretum, a welcome refreshment break including a lovely lunch in the restaurant, the staff here are wonderfully helpful and very friendly, during this time a few photographs were taken as reminders of the day, and for inclusion in the Spring addition of the BLESMA magazine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After lunch a road train tour of the site had been, arrange for everyone, this lasted just short of an hour with a running commentary of what we were seeing as we were driven round this very large and wonderful site.

The amount of memorials here is quite something to see, and the amount of differing subjects covered makes for a very interesting tour, it certainly inspires people to visit time and time again, the beautiful surroundings, the ease of access, and the relaxed atmosphere and makes for wonderful day out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The ease of access around this site shows how well this site is planned, managed, and looked after by the full time and part time staff, and the army of very knowledgeable volunteers that work here, it seemed whatever questions were asked, were answered with ease and fully detailed explanation which really added to the enjoyment of the day.

The road train did it’s full tour and then the driver / guide carried on a short distance past it’s normal stopping point to specially drop everyone of at the BLESMA garden and woodland grove, this contains an orchard, and a comfortable seating area for contemplation and remembering.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All the trees that have been planted have plaques with the Branch names on them, so finding our respective branch was very enjoyable and tasting the fruits that these trees bare.

In the centre of the area is a stone pillar with the BLESMA name cut into it, a plaque set into the top with a brief description and the date of dedication of the grove, and remembrance garden.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here we were all given small carrier bags to pick and take home fresh apples off the tree’s, once again it was very obvious that a lot of thought had been given to this orchard memorial, with the layout and planting of the tree’s, they all followed the pathways so even people in wheel chairs could pick the fruit with ease, the other thing to note is that all the trees are kept low by pruning for easy reach and picking the fruit, this means that even a small child could easily pick and enjoy an apple while standing on the pathway and in perfect safety.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here a number of photographs were taken of everyone enjoying the area, the fruits and this followed with a group photo of the members of the three branches Nottingham, Leicester and Walsall having a wonderful relaxed, friendly day out, from here everyone made their way back to the main visitor centre for refreshments if they wished and a chat with new and old friends that had got together today, the day ended around 4pm with everyone saying  there goodbye’s to the Walsall branch members and the lovely staff of the National Arboretum, before getting back on the coach for our journey back to Leicester then onto Nottingham.

 

All on this trip had a good day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It would be possible to make this an annual event with other branches joining us and make it a sort of pilgrimage.

My thanks go to Kevin Woodford (Leicester Branch) and Mike Gallagher (Walsall Branch) for their help in making the idea a reality.

 

 

This web page contains only a small number of over 300 photo's taken on the day, if you would like a computer disc with all the photo's please contact Chris Stewart.

 

Chris Stewart

Nottingham Branch.