Fylde Memorial Arboretum and Community Garden
Source: gov.uk (2025-11-10)

We, the undersigned, commit to honour the Armed Forces Covenant and support the Armed Forces Community. We recognise the value Serving Personnel, both Regular and Reservists, Veterans and military families contribute to our business and our country.

The Armed Forces Covenant

An enduring covenant between the people of the United Kingdom, Her Majesty’s Government and all those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces of the Crown and their families

The first duty of Government is the defence of the realm. Our Armed Forces fulfil that responsibility on behalf of the Government, sacrificing some civilian freedoms, facing danger and, sometimes, suffering serious injury or death as a result of their duty. Families also play a vital role in supporting the operational effectiveness of our Armed Forces. In return, the whole nation has a moral obligation to the members of the Naval Service, the Army and the Royal Air Force, together with their families. They deserve our respect and support, and fair treatment.

Those who serve in the Armed Forces, whether Regular or Reserve, those who have served in the past, and their families, should face no disadvantage compared to other citizens in the provision of public and commercial services. Special consideration is appropriate in some cases, especially for those who have given most such as the injured and the bereaved.

This obligation involves the whole of society: it includes voluntary and charitable bodies, private organisations, and the actions of individuals in supporting the Armed Forces. Recognising those who have performed military duty unites the country and demonstrates the value of their contribution. This has no greater expression than in upholding this Covenant.

Section 1: Principles of the Armed Forces Corporate Covenant

1.1 We Fylde Memorial Arboretum and Community Garden will endeavour in our business dealings to uphold the key principles of the Armed Forces Covenant, which are:
- no member of the Armed Forces Community should face disadvantage in the provision of public and commercial services compared to any other citizen;
- and in some circumstances that special treatment may be appropriate especially for the injured or bereaved.
Section 2: Demonstrating our commitment

2.1 Fylde Memorial Arboretum and Community Garden recognises the value serving personnel, reservists, veterans and military families bring to our business. We will seek to uphold the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant, by pledging to the following:
- Armed Forces Friendly
- Armed Forces Charities
We also pledge the following:

Promoting the Armed Forces: Promoting the fact that we are an Armed forces friendly charitable organisation. And to promote the Armed Forces Covenant to our sponsors and also to all our suppliers. Employment support t o members of the Armed Forces Community: Working with relevant charities and support groups to offer work opportunities to the wounded, injured and sick. Communications, engagement and outreach: Run facilitate, and encourage the local military community a nd civilian community to use and become aware of the Memorial arboretum and community woodland. Health: Facilitating the arboretum space to be used by various local community trusts to assist with the Health and Wellbeing services provided by various vete rans groups, gardening clubs. And also walking groups. And any groups that need open space to assist in their services. Education: To use the arboretum as an educational tool to keep the history of war in the minds of the next generation. Also to let var ious other projects and assistance groups to assist their clients (young adult groups with educational needs, and various other agencies.) To get local schools and cadet forces involved in the Arboretum and to use it as an educational tool when required. C ivic Responsibilities: Will be responsible for the upkeep of all the memorials placed within the boundaries of the Arboretum. We will organise, facilitate and promote and/ or take part in Remembrance and other ceremonial activities. These will inclu de services for V.E and V.J Day services.

2.2 We will publicise these commitments through our literature and/or on our website, setting out how we will seek to honour them and inviting feedback from the Service community and our customers on how we are doing.