Recently we visited the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire to complete their Second World War theme puzzle trail and came across this beautiful memorial to the Lumber Jills and Land Girls who were so integral to Britain's war effort.
The Womens’ Timber Corps, known as the 'Lumber Jills', was created in 1942, to help solve the country’s desperate need for home grown timber at a time when supplies of imported timber from North America and elsewhere were cut off by the war with Nazi Germany.
With men away at the front, women were recruited for essential forestry work including the tasks listed on this memorial.
Our project will be researching the lives and work of the Lumber Jills in Sherwood Forest and we're keen to hear from anyone with memories of them. Get in touch at susie.mcgraw@sherwoodforesttrust.org.uk , we'd love to hear your stories!
The Sherwood Forest Trust’s 'Spirit of Wartime Sherwood' project is exploring and sharing the fascinating history of Sherwood Forest and how it was used and affected by the Second World War. It is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and aims to involve communities from across the district as well as generating wider interest through tourism and an on-line presence.