‘National Lottery Way’ is a 40-metre walkway that will now enable visitors to reach some of the Arboretum’s newer memorials and tributes. It links the main avenue to the rear of the site and is encouraging more people to explore this area.

This is the third time National Lottery winners have volunteered at the Arboretum and on this occasion, they were joined by Matthew, a 33-year-old Royal Marine Commando originally from Solihull.

In 2008, he was awarded the George Cross (GC) - the highest British and Commonwealth medal for gallantry not in the face of the enemy - following a tour in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. 

Matthew Croucher, GC, said: "The last two days have been amazing. I assumed we’d get a somewhat chilled group of wealthy people.  What I saw was a very hard-working group who wanted to make a difference.  Indeed, they worked so hard some of them completed other tasks because it was all finished so quickly. They all mentioned how they wanted to give something back after their good fortune and not only did they work hard but they were great fun with an amazing sense of humour.”

The National Memorial Arboretum has benefitted from National Lottery players’ support. Grants totalling over £10million have been awarded including most recently £2.85m from the HLF for the new visitor and education centre.