TUNBRIDGE WELLS
Friends of Woodbury Park Cemetery
July 2008 news update
June Bridgeman reports that Woodbury Park Cemeterywas awarded a Green Flag by the Civic Trust. The Trust recorded that the cemetery with more than 6000 graves was a green oasis in the heartin the busy commercial centre of Tunbridge Wells.Working in close partnership with the recently formed Friends group, the cemetery is now a welcoming, closely managed and much-loved green space. It describes that from its early days it was described as "a significant part of the town's landscape" and goes on to say "visiting today, you will discover monuments commemorating several famous characters from Tunbridge Wells' history. In 1864 it was written "this resting-place is beautifully laid out as a mortuary garden. Shrubs, trees, flowers. evergreens, moss-covered graves and sculptured tombs impart to it a very pleasing aspect." "In more recent years it was a lost landscape, set behind the bus depot and received little attention until it was re-discovered by committed volunteers who went on to form Friends of Woodbury Park Cemetery in 2006. Now it is recognised as a significant, peaceful public green space, a haven for wildlife in a built up area and a valuable educational resource."
July 2007 news update:
June Bridgeman reports a busy time of guided walks and events have included interesting monuments, the dawn chorus, lichens. moth trapping and an interesting mini-safari for children looking for bees, ants, grasshoppers and so forth. The group are conducting wildlife surveys and have drawn up a biodiversity plan for the cemetery and a parallel plan to survey all the headstones is now in hand. The U3A Camera Club is photographing each grave. The Friends are pleased that their local M.P. is showing support and has become a member. if you would like to view 10 interesting graves, please visit their website where walks and events are listed. click here
NFCF NEWSLETTER NO 19 Spring 2007
This recently formed group already has nearly one hundred members, has established leaflets and has plans for walks, surveys and clearing of some of the most impressive plants.
