Find a Flowery Burial Ground

Abney Park in Stoke Newington, one of the ‘Magnificent Seven’ garden cemeteries of London, a woodland memorial park and Local Nature Reserve (the first statutory Local Nature Reserve to be designated in Hackney) and is managed by the London Borough of Hackney. The site offers the visitor a wealth of ecological riches that are unusual so close to the centre of London. The 13-hectare mixed, mature woodland contains the remnants of exotic plantings from the 1840s and 60 trees that show veteran characteristics which are particularly beneficial to wildlife.  The cemetery offers refuge to breeding, over wintering and migrating birds …

The churchyard to the south supports an ancient hay meadow with plant species which may have persisted since at least Anglo Saxon times. The main conservation aim in this area has been to maintain it as a traditional species-rich hay meadow, in the same way it is thought to have been managed over many preceding centuries, with mowing at the end of June and an additional cut in late autumn or winter. This area has been managed by the local Blofield and District Conservation Group (BADCOG) since 1985. The Bure Valley Conservation Group (BVCG) has undertaken cutting and raking in …

All Saints is a grade 1 listed medieval church at the centre of a roughly circular churchyard of about 1.5 acres. It lies at the northern edge of the village of Barrowby, 2 miles north west of Grantham, from where it commands a fine view north over the Trent and Belvoir Vale. The first written records of the church are from the Domesday Book of 1086 and the building embodies fragments of Saxon carving, but the church of today is of ironstone and limestone and originates from the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. For much of its postwar history the churchyard …

All Saints’ Church Clifton is about 800 years old and much of the original structure remains. The Church contains many features that are interesting plus some that are of national importance. The whole of the fourteenth century south side of the church and the fifteenth century tower can be viewed from Church Street. The churchyard is entered through the nineteenth century lychgate, set between mature yew trees which border Church Street. The wheelchair-friendly path has flower beds on either side and uncluttered gravestones provide a rich habitat for lichens as well as reminders of the past. The churchyard surrounding the …

All Saints Church is best known for the very old yew tree growing from the top of the tower, but the church is also appreciated for its excellent acoustics and professional musicians from as far afield as the US, Japan and the Netherlands perform here fairly frequently as guests of the Blackdown Early Music Project. The churchyard has been managed (with the assistance of the very patient Mid Devon Council grounds team) by volunteers. Our aim is to create a welcoming and peaceful space for residents and wildlife alike. There has been a noticeable increase in wildflowers appearing and to …

Tucked away between the Villages of Wymondham and Mulbarton this churchyard is entirely managed for wildlife. Visit the churchyard in June/July to catch the pyramidal orchids in bloom. Also present in season is common knapweed, cowslip, dog violet, field scabious, goat’s-beard, greater stitchwort, germander speedwell, lady’s bedstraw, meadow vetchling, ox-eye daisy, perforate St John’s wort, self-heal, shining cranesbill, sorrel, yellow rattle, tufted vetch, wild daffodil, zigzag clover and a range of fine grasses. The churchyard is mown once in late summer followed by the removal of all herbage. This allows the grasses and wildflowers to grow and set seed as …

Areas of All Saint’s churchyard have species indicative of unimproved, species rich grassland such as pignut, ox-eye daisy and and meadow saxifrage alongside the more common, but still valuable, churchyard finds of germander speedwell, sorrel, common cat’s ear and common knapweed.  On the roadside of the west churchyard wall, the rarely seen in Norfolk, black spleenwort can be found. Due to the abundance and diversity of flowering plants in the churchyard, the grassland is humming with invertebrate life in spring and summer, including numerous butterflies and bumblebee species, such as the early bumblebee, red-tailed bumblebee, tree bumblebee and common carder …

The All Saints’ Church, East Budleigh, and churchyards are within the East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the East Budleigh Conservation Area – and adjoin farmland. There are two churchyards: a new cemetery comprising a burial ground and a garden of remembrance consecrated in July 1997; and our old churchyard. The old churchyard was converted to a “Living Churchyard” in 1995 with two large areas: one is a spring meadow with snowdrops, crocus, primrose, wild daffodils, ox-eye daises and other wildflowers; the other is a large summer meadow with around 100 different flowering species. Additionally the area immediately …

All Saints’ Church, Warlingham, was built in 1250 AD with a small area of land around it for burials. Thanks to benefactors the ground was gradually extended to 2½ acres. There is an ecological approach to the management of the churchyard which benefits wild animals including deer and foxes, many birds, insects and some reptiles. There are also many anthills. A team of volunteers and one contracted person tend the area. Some endangered species have been seen – stag beetle, the lesser spotted woodpecker and the wild fritillary. There are many interesting trees including an ancient yew and five Cryptomeria …

Arnos Vale Cemetery is a beautiful 45-acre Garden Cemetery nestled in a Grade 2 Listed landscape. It was set up in 1839 the first cemetery in the South West of England. The cemetery was also the first place in the South West to undertake cremations (1929-1989) and still has the original historic cremation chimney in the landscape.  Most of Bristol’s leading Victorian citizens, industrialists, philanthropists, artists and scientists rest in the landscape as well as tens of thousands of others. It is also the last resting place of the largest number of WW1 and WW2 service personnel in civilian cemetery in the …

Enter 45 green acres of spectacular Victorian Garden Cemetery. Find out more about the history of the city, told in a leafy and tranquil setting , rich in architecture, fascinating trails and nature walks. A beautiful place to have a relaxed wander, an interesting landscape with plenty of wildlife in the city centre. The cemetery is managed as a Site of Nature Conservation Interest (SNCI). Diverse wildlife lives amidst glorious ancient woodland. Birdsong fills the air in Spring as returning warblers prepare to nest alongside resident woodpeckers, thrushes and finches. Rare visitors like firecrest and woodcock find shelter in the …

Lothersdale is a peaceful rural village located in North Yorkshire. The village follows along the line of picturesque beck and valley, overlooked by farmsteads on the hills above. The Pennine Way runs through Lothersdale and village contains many historical buildings, such as Stone Gappe Hall. Charlotte Bronte was employed here as nursery governess  in 1879 and provided her with the inspiration for opening chapters of her novel ‘Jane Eyre’. The village was featured in a 1975 BBC documentary, “Lothersdale: An image of England” ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyorQmoHFWc ) Bethel Methodist Chapel was completed in 1851

Bridlington Priory, founded in 1113 as an Augustinian monastery, is now an Anglican parish church and has a large enclosed churchyard. This includes old graves and headstones and other areas for new burials. As part of the Yorkshire Wildlife Living Churchyard Project, about 12 years ago other areas were set aside for wildflower meadow, trees and bushes, log pile and rough grass. The wildflower area has cowslips in the spring and then ox-eye daisy, red clover, knapweed, yellow rattle, red campion and others as the year progresses. This is all cut down and raked away in autumn. There are also …

Buttington Cemetery is a small, rural site, actively used for burials and managed by Powys County Council. It is a flat, rectangular site located along the A458 and B4388 in the Severn valley. The site comprises three distinct sections: the newest section and middle section are kept tidy and accessible as these are still used for burials. The oldest section opened for burials in January 1883 and is managed to promote biodiversity in line with the Council’s vision for a Greener Powys and pledge to tackle the climate & biodiversity emergency. The arrival of Spring is accompanied by extensive drifts …

The churchyard at Christ Church, Gorsley, is recognised as a key wildlife site by The Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust.  It has a wide range of grasses and wild flowers which support a variety of insects, butterflies and birds, including the house martins which nest in the eaves of the church.  The churchyard is only mown once a year in late summer or early autumn after the flower and grass seeds have set.  Snowdrops, wild daffodils, cowslips, orchids, ox-eye daisies, bird’s-foot trefoil and devil’s bit scabious are amongst the flora flowering as the seasons progress.  The churchyard has five types of orchid: …

Lothersdale is a peaceful rural village located in North Yorkshire. The village follows along the line of picturesque beck and valley, overlooked by farmsteads on the hills above. The Pennine Way runs through Lothersdale and village contains many historical buildings, such as Stone Gappe Hall. Charlotte Bronte was employed here as nursery governess  in 1879 and provided her with the inspiration for opening chapters of her novel ‘Jane Eyre’. The village was featured in a 1975 BBC documentary, “Lothersdale: An image of England” (youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyorQmoHFWc ) Christ Church is the parish church of Lothersdale. Completed in 1838. The church has unusual interior …

A lovely range of beautiful laid out beds, sensory garden and wild flower meadows in a village environment in North London. Lots of interesting gravestones and crypts dating from the 17th century.

In autumn 2018 the Good Shepherd PCC decided to make changes to how the churchyard was managed to enhance its biodiversity. With the involvement members of the community and local schoolchildren they quickly and cheaply installed home-made compost bins and insect and bird boxes. With advice from the Forest of Bowland AONB Wildflower Meadow Officer they deferred cutting grass in the old part of the churchyard until the end of the summer.  As a result, a considerable number of plant species have flourished, including two types of orchid. Within the first six months birds occupied boxes placed on the church, …

A beautiful churchyard in the centre of the village, still used for burials.  A well -used footpath crosses the churchyard.  Benches are provided in quiet corners. The churchyard is managed to provide a variety of habitats, through the seasons there are spring flowers, blossom, meadow sections and mown paths for access.  It has achieved the eco churchyard silver award.  A recent survey found hedgehogs, voles and slow worms all active. There are multiple compost heaps in the working area, a dead hedge, hibernaculum and other wildlife refuges at the quiet edges of the Churchyard. The churchyard is managed by the …

Enormous churchyard nearly all mown by sit-on mower (no grass box!)… except my patch!!!  Near the east kissing gate, my patch measures 22 by 30 paces.  It has never had sheep or chemicals, is in its fourth year of care according to the guidelines recommended by Caring For God’s Acre and with help and advice from nearby St John’s Sharow, Ripon, and you will find over 30 varieties of wildflower – as identified with the help of local botanists.  So no mow from April, identify (and quantify) the flowers, add observations to Beautiful Burial Grounds Project, scythe in June/July and …

East Hill Cemetery is a small south facing closed cemetery with chalky soils, semi-improved calcareous grassland and parkland exhibiting many large veteran trees. The site has been disturbed many times throughout history due to the land-use type. There are many undulations where the ground has sunk and settled throughout the years, after graves and burial sites were dug into the land. There are many graves without head stones that now give large areas for wildflower meadow creation. The Dartford Borough Councils Countryside team aim is to increase the pollination corridors by improving the nature network across the borough. East Hill …

This lovely churchyard is under a quarter of a hectare in size and is a level site surrounded by hedgerows. A search of the biological records within the National Biodiversity Network Atlas from the 1km square that encompasses this churchyard contains 342 species. These are mainly bird records with lots of woodland species that are also common in gardens. Some highlights include sparrow hawk, buzzard, tree creeper, pied/white wagtail, spotted flycatcher, tawny owl, greater/lesser spotted woodpecker. There are over 30 yellow meadow ant mounds in this churchyard. The grassland survey that Caring for God’s Acre and the local community undertook …

Over the past 8 years the churchyard has been transformed with careful management to be a haven of wildflowers in the spring using careful cutting techniques to encourage diversity. There are also ancient yews forming a splendid archway along the entrance path and a huge elm tree behind the Church which again with careful pruning is thriving. The churchyard features St Non’s Well, one of many in Wales. Non is the mother of St David, patron saint of Wales. The well is said to possess healing properties. There is an extensive survey of the gravestones in the churchyard including individual …

Glossop Parish Church, Church Street South, Old Glossop,SK13 7RU We aim to make the churchyard a living sanctuary, not only for wildlife by encouraging biodiversity but also for humankind as a ‘green space’ for rest and reflection. more about our churchyard can be seen on our monthly blogspot http://www.friendsofglossopchurchyard.blogspot.com our churchyard which has graves from the late 17th century surrounds the church building on three sides. We grow bee-loving plants and include habitats for insects; place labels around the garden with environmental information. Parts of the churchyard is left wild and full of wildflowers We have bird boxes, bee hotels, …

Greenacres Rainford is a unique, natural cemetery and ceremonial park located on the outskirts of St Helens. The plan at Greenacres has always been to manage and develop the long term conifer stand and integrate the broadleaf woodland over time.  The ground flora and grassland  biodiversity has been enhance and the tree canopy opened up. The aim is to conserve the wood as a native British type, so all trees, shrubs and wildflowers planted are native ones. In the woodland regeneration programme damaged, dead and diseased trees are removed and poor specimens are thinned out to allow in more light/space …

Heene Cemetery is a one-acre, town-centre cemetery that was opened in 1873 and closed in 1977. It is tended by a group of volunteers throughout the year. In Spring and Summer, flowers and grasses are allowed to grow to full height, providing a spellbinding natural display. The Friends of Heene research and publish the biographies of the 1,960 people buried here. In 1992 the cemetery was designated a Site of Nature Conservation Importance, changing to a Sussex Local Wildlife Site in 2018, in recognition of its meadowland origins. On-going species surveying is taking place. In May 2025, for example, the …

Holy Cross church, Cruwys Morchard is at the heart of one of the largest parishes in Devon. It is a secluded spot accompanied by the village hall and neighbouring manor house. The unusual Lychgate is of a rotating design (similar to a revolving door). The majority of the old churchyard is allowed to grow long through the summer months, whilst the more modern extension is regularly cut. In the late summer the sward is cut and raked enabling a range of wildflowers and grasses to flourish. Cruwys Morchard Churchyard plants 2022 Contact numbers can be found on the church website

Since 1994 the churchyard at Finningley in South Yorkshire has been managed for wildlife.  Holy Trinity & St Oswald’s Church dates back in part to the 11th century and its churchyard, used as a site for burials for centuries, comprises approximately one acre of unimproved grassland.  It is now managed as spring and summer meadows, cut in July and September respectively, with a small shady woodland area, created principally by self-seeded Hollies, Ash, Elder and a variety of shrubs. Recognising the need for our churchyard to be better managed, in 1994 our PCC was approached to permit us to let …

The churchyard is the only example in Weston Lullingfileds of permanent ungrazed grassland amongst arable and improved grassland fields. There are pockets of alkaline soil which means calcium loving plants like Quaking-grass and Rough Hawkbit are present. The grassland is best in spring and early summer when the primroses, pignut and common dog violet flower in profusion alongside other species. There is a wealth of non-invasive grass species and stands of ox-eye daisies and heath speedwell in summer. The groups of fungi and mosses are plentiful in a wet autumn with some species of both needing expert identification. There is …

The comment we hear most often at Holy Trinity Goodramgate is “I have lived here for years and I never knew you were here”. Located right in the heart of York, the churchyard at Holy Trinity Goodramgate is a secret garden. Those lucky enough to come through the 18th century gate (listed with Historic England and used in the filming of the BBC TV series Gentleman Jack), are welcomed by a rainbow plaque commemorating the visit of Anne Lister & Ann Walker to take communion at the church before they started their lives together in 1834. The churchyard itself is …

Holy Trinity Churchyard, Prestwood, is a rare survival of the original acid grass heath that was prevalent on the extensive old Chiltern commons that were almost entirely destroyed when enclosed in the middle of the 19th century. Plants survive here that are no longer known anywhere else in the region. In addition, the combination of no fertilisers, regular mowing and removal of cuttings, has created the ideal conditions for what is known as a “waxcap grassland”, where a special suite of fungi that are largely very rare can flourish – mostly waxcaps, but also “clubs” and pinkgills. The grass land at Holy Trinity is classified as grass-heath. Plant species associated with …

Maesyrhelem Chapel has a small and beautiful burial ground. The burial ground is 0.3 hectares, well managed and open for burials. The immediate habitat surrounding the site is woods, open fields and one minor road. The grassland survey found some lovely species such as quaking grass, crosswort, heath bedstraw, devil’s-bit scabious and betony.

Reading Old Cemetery is beautiful example of a Victorian Garden Cemetery which opened in 1843. The site is literally sandwiched between two very busy main roads and as such it provides a vital green lung and a valuable wildlife oasis in what is otherwise a very urban part of East Reading. The cemetery contains 4.7 hectares of semi-improved and unimproved grassland – with two areas are managed as wildflower meadows. These areas contain a good range of fine leaved grasses and flowering plants including Oxeye daisy , Ladies-bedstraw, Germander Speedwell, Yarrow, Bulbous Buttercup, Knapweed and Yellow rattle. The best time …

This beautiful churchyard is under half a hectare in size and is a treat to visit in the summer when the meadow areas are in full bloom. Flowers include harebell, pignut, burnet-saxifrage, knapweed, yarrow, heath bedstraw, meadow vetchling and vetches. In autumn the front part of the graveyard is covered in masses of pink and white cyclamen. Winter reveals carpets of snowdrops followed by daffodils and cyclamen in the spring. There are bat boxes on site and interesting trees such as weeping ash, holy thorn and three notable yews. Plant List July 2017

The church sits within the preserved ruins of the larger church it once was. The area within is maintained as a longer grass wildflower meadow area with cut paths during flowering months. Areas of longer grass are left in defined areas in the main churchyard which is currently still open for burials & interment of ashes. March 2024 green snowdrops and native bluebells were planted around trees and along hedges. In May 2024 a grass labyrinth was cut into an open area of grass in the front left quadrant as you face the porch (visible on google maps!) and is …

St Andrew’s Church Ampthill has Saxon origins but the current church dates from the 15th century when Sir John Cornwall, a hero of Agincourt, paid to extend and expand the church to its current size. The church contains the grave and memorial to Richard Nicolls who named New York after his friend the Duke of York, later to become King James II. The graveyard is in three sections: the original area surrounding the church, a Victorian extension and a 20th Century extension. All are now closed to new burials. The most prominent memorial is the Wingfield Angel, guarding the family grave …

The churchyard is divided into three sections, a large area managed especially for wildflowers, a grass area that is mown regularly between April and October and a much smaller area close to some sections of the church where a range of garden flowers are grown. Over the past few years the wildflower section has become the passion of one lady, a resident of over 40 years in the village who has tended the village verges and communal areas so that there is now an annual display of wild flowers along those as well especially snowdrops and primroses. Our enthusiast collects …

St Bride’s churchyard is in the centre of the village of Cwmdauddwr, next to the mid-Wales town of Rhayader in Powys. The churchyard is very large and is the resting place of at least several hundred persons. It is the traditional burial ground for Cwmdauddwr Village and the Elan Valley’s Nantgwyllt Chapel of Ease. The churchyard is about 80% full and is still open to new burials. A recent survey commissioned by CfGA described the churchyard as a ‘herb-rich grassland’ with 14 high quality species identified with 68 species in total such as mouse-ear hawkweed, rough hawkbit and common catsear …

St Catherine’s, in Barmby Moor, is said to be the largest churchyard in East Yorkshire, certainly it is very large (2.5 acres or 1 hectare).  It has been managed for wildlife since the mid 1990s when the then vicar, Canon Val Hewetson, a botany graduate, noticed wildflowers flowering in between mowings.  Fast forward to the 2020s, the churchyard has a range of mowing regimes – to allow the wildflowers to continue to thrive and provide a habitat for small mammals, insects and other small creatures. The areas of modern graves are mown approximately once a fortnight in the growing season …

We have been managing the churchyard for about 13 years now, since a small group of us decided that too many flowers were being cut and that the grass cuttings being left were unsightly and doing no good! It has been a struggle, but we have more volunteers now.  The cutting regime, for which we have to pay, varies according to the weather.  This year we have manage with only one, but the clearing was not as thorough, as the weather was against us.  Last year we needed three cuts, which were cleared pretty well. The best time to visit …