Woodland service near Ashby will 'keep the memory alive' of 457 Armed Forces Servicemen and Women who gave their lives in Afghanistan
By Graham Hill 5th Nov 2024
An army serviceman is organising a Remembrance Service this Sunday woodland site near Ashby - so that the memory of 457 people does not die.
After the loss of colleagues in Afghanistan, Staff Sgt Robbie Conway decided he would like to create a permanent fixture to remember them.
The initial concept was to plant a few trees in memory of friends.
However, the emotional journey he went on saw his idea change from a few trees to 457 trees to remember all of those who lost their lives in Afghanistan. His project was named 'Trees for Troops'.
But SSgt Conway is now concerned that the woodland memorial site at Willesley Wood is now being forgotten - with some relatives of the servicepeople who died not even aware that it exists.
With the support of the Woodlands Trust, SSgt Conway had to raise £10,000 in 2022 to make his dream a reality.
The CEO of the Woodlands Trust was so inspired they paid the additional £7,000 to ensure that all 457 trees could be planted to create this memorial woodland.
SSgt Conway returns to his 457 trees each year to remember those who lost their lives.
The memorial woodland will host a small service hosted by SSgt Conway and supported by the Royal British Legion, with a 10.30am meet-up time.
Any military and civilian representatives can lay a poppy wreath and personal message along with SSgt Conway's poppy wreaths. But the invite is open to anyone.
SSgt Conway told Ashby Nub News: "It has taken a long journey getting the woodland in place as a memorial.
"I don't want the memory to die - the memory of the 457 people who lost their lives has to be kept alive.
"On Sunday, I have soldiers from quite a few places in the UK attending.
"It'll be a small service, but hopefully it'll have a big impact.
"I want to get a message out there that the memorial is here for the families - I'm not sure they're even aware that it's there.
"I did a 100-mile run to raise money to establish it, but the hardest thing has been trying to get the message out to the public.
"It's a place of remembrance for anyone. I'll be delivering a speech to say why it's there and why it's so important."
• For anyone wishing to attend, parking is available but limited. Parking is available at the nearby Oakthorpe Colliery picnic site, which has a surfaced carpark. Alternatively, you can park at the first gate before the woodland entrance. The following may be useful to locate parking sites;
Main parking (6 - 8 spaces); Backup parking (14 – 15 spaces)
Due to parking spaces being so limited, it is advised that visitors arrive early, be prepared to find alternative parking and to walk to the woodland.
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