Saqib Bhatti MBE MP, Member of Parliament for Meriden and Solihull East and Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst MP, Member of Parliament for Solihull West and Shirley, visited Tudor Grange Academy Kingshurst to see its remarkable World War One trench experience and discuss opportunities to bring the unique local educational resource back into wider community use.
The trench experience provides pupils with an immersive way to learn about the First World War, bringing history to life and helping younger generations understand the experiences of those who served and lived through the conflict.
During his visit, Mr Bhatti explored how the site could be revitalised and made available to a wider range of local schools, community groups and veterans from across Solihull.
Mr Bhatti and Dr Shastri-Hurst will continue working with Tudor Grange Academy Kingshurst and local partners to explore opportunities to maximise the community benefit of the trench experience and ensure its legacy can be enjoyed by future generations.
Commenting, Saqib Bhatti MBE MP said:
"It was a pleasure to visit Tudor Grange Academy Kingshurst and see the remarkable World War One trench experience first-hand. This is a fantastic educational resource that brings history to life for young people, but I believe it has the potential to do even more for our community. “I’m keen to work with the academy to explore how we can bring this unique local asset back into wider community use, supporting local schools, community groups and veterans.
“It is important that we preserve opportunities to learn from our history, while ensuring that resources like this continue to educate, inspire and serve future generations.”
Commenting, Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst MP said:
“I first heard about the replica World War One trench at Tudor Grange Academy Kingswood when I met with Dan in Solihull town centre on Armed Forces Day 2026. It was clear from our conversation that he had a huge amount of passion to return the site to its former glory.
"It was therefore wonderful to visit the site in person, alongside Saqib and local veterans, to see it first-hand. As a veteran myself, I am really attracted by the idea of local veterans’ groups taking a lead in bringing this important local asset back to life.”
Commenting, Dan Jones, Outdoor Learning Supervisor said:
“Tudor Grange Academy Kingshurst was delighted to receive a visit from Mr. Saqib Bhatti MP and Dr Neil Shastri -Hurst the purpose of which was to explain the ideas we have to make our facilities a community asset. The focal point was a reconstruction of a World War One trench.
"Both Saqib and Neil were enthusiastic as to our plans for the site and encouraged our partnership with the Help for Heroes charity. They recognised the potential that the facilities have to engage the community and address some of the issues that face the community alongside supporting veterans of the armed services.
We feel as an educational Trust that with their support we can realise this potential and use the WW1 trench and the surrounding grounds to engage our students but also the community and deliver real outcomes for the area.”
