About the Group.
Friends of Warriston Cemetery (FOWC) was set up in July 2013 following an open meeting to discuss setting up a group dedicated to caring for this historic site. FOWC want Warriston Cemetery to be a place to be proud of, where the heritage and environment are safeguarded and promoted for the enjoyment of all.
Please join us on our journey to rescue this wonderful historic cemetery. We invite you to contact us with comments, photos, and resources so that we can help build and expand our organisation. It all starts with the small seed of intent that can flourish with the stewardship of an involved and dedicated community!
We are a friendly bunch and welcome new volunteers. Even an hour of your time would be very useful. Be warned, though, the place can become addictive! Work party sessions take place usually on Tuesdays and Saturdays each week with extra days as and when required. There is no formal commitment, just come along whenever you like (and of course leave when you want to). Meet at the main gate or at our Green Shed at the east gate or at the Red Lady memorial at the end of the bricked driveway around 10am or come and find us if you arrive later in the day.
Warriston cemetery is located at the end of Warriston Gardens which can be accessed from Inverleith Row. The cemetery address is; 40C Warriston Gardens, Edinburgh EH3 5NE.
If you can’t come along, in person, for whatever reason you can support the group via annual membership (life membership is also available). For more details, please send a message to the following email address; friendsofwarristoncemetery@gmail.com. Thanks.
Contact us at: friendsofwarristoncemetery@gmail.com
Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/164299747054697/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FOWarristonCem/
Friends of Warriston Cemetery 
Nectar, pollen and berries of ivy are an essential food source for insects and birds during autumn and winter when little else is about. It also provides shelter for insects, birds, bats and other small mammals.
Please consider carefully whether you need to rip up the ivy. Same for the disappeared bramble thickets. I love the cemetery. But it does not need to be tidied, manicured or sanitised. Please let nature have this space to thrive.
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We are aware of the benefits to wildlife, and despite there being plenty of wild spaces nearby, we have no intention of making Warriston “tidied, manicured or sanitised”. But it is a burial ground and the gravestones must be visible. We encourage biodiversity inbetween them.
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Thank you for your reply. I’d question your comment that the burial stones ‘must be visible’. I’m not sure on what grounds that requirement is based. I’m genuinely concerned about the great loss of our biodiversity, the crisis our planet is facing. Burial grounds are very important as they are unlikely to be disrupted by building and the need for profit. The grasses need to grow, not be trimmed away by motorised streamers as I saw recently, so the pollinators can thrive. The brambles need to be left in tact as are a nesting habitat for birds and a food source too. I know your members are extremely well meaning. But it’s a unique spot in the north of Edinburgh and I’d kindly suggest that we have records of all stones in the graveyard. Some could be discretely exposed as the war graves, respectfully, are. The clearance of grasses, brambles etc between them seems to go beyond this. You’ll forgive me for having concerns given the mass destruction of biodiversity we face as a society and planet. We have to treasure what we have and foster it. I argue that this is more important than the visibility of grave stones for which there is a historical record of location and details available too.
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I am really glad to hear that. I love walking in the cemetery and what makes it so special is the wonderful combination of respecting the dead while celebrating such abundant life. Just the other day I noticed Sparrowhawks attempting to nest in the ivy and I’ve heard owls hiding in it on many occasions. So like Dr Findlay, I was concerned that the plan was to remove all of it. As an aside I’ve noticed that the removal of ivy from trees has extended to the cycle paths around the cemetery. I’m not sure if this is also part of your work and I’m hoping that the plan is to leave some of it as so much of it is being used as a nesting site at this time of year.
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I am really glad to hear that. I love walking in Warriston Cemetery. It is such a unique place and what makes it so special for me is the wonderful combination of respecting the dead while celebrating such abundant life. Just the other day I was watching sparrowhawks attempting to nest in the ivy and I have heard owls hiding in it on many occasions. So like to Dr Findlay I was concerned that the intention was to remove all of it. As an aside I have also noticed that ivy is being removed from trees on the cycle paths around the cemetery. Is this also part of your work? It has been concerning me because I’ve noticed just so many nests in the ivy of late.
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Good to hear you enjoy the cemetery so much. We love it too. There will always be plenty of ivy as it is of use to much wildlife in various ways. We don’t have anything to do with the cycle paths that surround the cemetery and we are not aware of any other groups that might do that. I hope you continue to enjoy the cemetery.
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