For Your Tomorrow at Stowe Gardens
Stowe Gardens is the UK’s official host for the British D-Day 80 memorial exhibition ‘For Your Tomorrow’. It is now open to the public until 11 November 2024.
A memorial installation to soldiers killed in the D Day landing on 6 June 1944 is now on display at Stowe Gardens. We are the UK’s official host of the commemoration.
Open to the public from 1 October - 11 November 2024, the large-scale art installation consists of 1,475 silhouettes of Second World War military personnel. The exhibition is installed in Stowe's Grecian Valley, which is around a 2000m (1.2 mile) walk from the Stowe car park (MK18 5EQ). Mobility vehicles are available for hire, to book one of these please call 01280 817156. Our twilight events will use Stowe School car park, which is adjacent to the Grecian Valley.
For Your Tomorrow – the People’s Tribute was created by community artist, Dan Barton with the number of figures in the display representing the number of fatalities under British command on 6 June 1944.
Tanya Brittain, General Manager of the National Trust gardens at Stowe says, “It’s an honour to be chosen as the official UK host location for the British D-Day 80 memorial exhibition, For Your Tomorrow – the People’s Tribute.
“This autumn is an opportunity to remember family, friends and colleagues lost in conflict situations over the past 80 years. Stowe has a rich military history and we look forward to welcoming visitors to experience this poignant outdoor art installation against the stunning backdrop of the Stowe’s historic Landscape Gardens.
“The 18th-century landscape garden at Stowe is well known for its many historic buildings and statues and has also featured in many well-known films and TV series. The Capability Brown designed landscape is renowned for its precise placement of eye-catching monuments to create the picture-perfect view. Its beautiful avenues, temples and lakes will provide an impressive outdoor gallery space and backdrop for this celebrated artwork.”
The silhouettes are designed to represent the military personnel form all the major services but in addition, two bespoke figures of nurses have been included. They are of Sister Mollie Evershed and Sister Dorothy Field who died while helping to save 75 men from the hospital ship SS Amsterdam which sank off the Normandy beaches on 7th August 1944.
Both were given posthumous commendation for their actions and are the only two women commemorated on the British Normandy Memorial.
Artist Dan Barton has delivered several impactful military-based displays since founding Oxfordshire-based charity Standing with Giants. The life-size figures are constructed entirely by volunteers, using recycled building materials and create meaningful spaces for people to visit and reflect.
“Our ethos at Standing with Giants is to value life, to understand and appreciate why we have our freedom, and to remember and pay tribute to those who have fallen so we can live the lives we have today. Using outdoor art is a great way to do this,” said Standing with Giants Founder, Dan Barton.
Ways to visit the D-Day 80 People’s Tribute at Stowe this Autumn:
Standard daytime visit 10:00-16:00 daily - 1 Oct - 11 Nov
National Trust members free – memberships scanned on entry. Normal entry price to the garden applies for non-members: £15.00 for adults and £7.50 for children.
The Stowe land-train will be available during normal opening hours, running continuously between New Inn and the Grecian Valley daily from 10:30am, until 11 November. This costs £3 per person, each way. Tickets available from New Inn Visitor Centre. Departing from the coach park every 30 minutes. First come, first-seated.
Additonal car parking facilities: On the following dates, additional car parking at Stowe School (What3Words location ///tokens.intervene.lightens) will be available to visitors between 10am - 5pm until Oct 26 and 10am - 4pm from Oct 27: :
Oct 19, 20, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31
Nov 1, 2, 3, 9, 10
To get to our additional car parking facilities, please use the post code is MK18 5EH to reach Stowe School Security. You will be guided straight on to the National Trust car park from there and parking attendants will direct visitors to the car parking places.
You will be able to purchase Stowe Garden tickets or scan your National Trust membership card at the pop up Welcome Tent
Please note, Stowe School is out of bounds to visitors, but please visit Stowe House via their Visitor Centre, which can be accessed via Stowe Gardens. (Stowe House closed on October 20)
Book a sunrise visit here: For Your Tomorrow Sunrise Experience | National Trust
Book a twilight visit here: For Your Tomorrow Twilight Experience | National Trust
Group visits must be pre-booked. To do so email stowe.groupbookings@nationaltrust.org.uk
Follow us on social media @stowe_nt on Instagram and @nationaltruststowe on Facebook for updates.