Poignant field of poppies tribute opens at NMA

Thousands of families have left handwritten tributes for their loved ones at the National Memorial Arboretum

Nearly 35,000 handwritten tributes from families across the UK have been unveiled as part of a special display at the National Memorial Arboretum.

The Royal British Legion's Field of Remembrance was unveiled on Friday in the run up to Rembrancetide, a period of reflection for those lost in conflict.

Each tribute carries a personal message to honour the memory of a loved one or someone who lost their life in service for the country.

The memorial will be in place at the arboretum, in Alrewas, Staffordshire, until 16 November.

There are almost 35,000 individual tributes as part of the Fields of Remembrance

It incorporates tributes in the form of Remembrance crosses, Muslim crescent, Star of David, Sikh Khanda, Hindu Om, secular tribute or commemorative markers.

The National Memorial Arboretum is a year-round place to remember, set in 150 acres and home to more than 400 memorials.

"Remembrance is part of our nation's culture and means so much to so many people," said Phillippa Rawlinson, director of Remembrance at the Royal British Legion.

The Fields of Remembrance will be on display until 16 November

Former Staffordshire sapper Steve Cartwright, from Stafford, was among those in attendance at the ceremony on Friday and said he was "absolutely blown away" by the tribute.

"It's just phenomenal to see the amount of crosses, the amount of people and everything like that," he said. "It's beautiful, breathtaking."

He joined the armed forces at 16, was in the Royal Engineers and served in various places around the world.

He left in 2001, and was called up again in 2003 but medically discharged shortly after.

He said the Royal British Legion supported him when he was considering ending his life, and that as a result he had gone on to take up archery and competed in the Invictus Games.

"Without them, I wouldn't be here now," he said.

A ceremony was held on Friday to formally open the memorial

Another of those to plant a tribute was Chantelle Wynn, from Tamworth, in memory of her husband Ryan who served in the reservists.

She said he was a "happy-go-lucky chappy, a real family man," but changed after returning from Afghanistan.

"He didn't want to go out, didn't want to take the kids to school, didn't want to play football with the kids or do normal stuff," she said.

He went on to take his own life.

"We were absolutely devastated, heartbroken, didn't know where to turn," Ms Win said.

She added that someone advised her to go to the Royal British Legion, who helped her get her family's finances in order and supported them with Christmas presents and a holiday.

"We remember Ryan every single day, but we're good. We're getting our lives back," she said.

"It's absolutely amazing to remember all those who've made sacrifices, remembering the men and women that have got physical and emotional burdens as well."