For other participating cemeteries, eg Dean, Morningside, Necropolis and Southern Necropolis (Glasgow), see www.cemeteryfriends.com
National Cemeteries Week, 11 – 19 May 2019
and Dying Matters Awareness Week 2019
This week you will see how Cemetery Friends throughout the UK are involved in keeping cemeteries tidy and safe whilst conserving and managing the natural features, restoring significant buildings and monuments and encouraging the appreciation of cemeteries.
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January 12th…
Section F, now looking more as it ought to. In the older part of the cemetery, this is one of the very few open spaces where birds have room to swoop about to catch insects. We plan to leave the bramble “plantation” in the background and to remove some of the ground ivy in the foreground, then replace that with long grass and wildflowers. We’ve planted shrubs behind that large monument. This will vary the biodiversity, and look more attractive to those coming in by the unofficial entrance at the East Gate. And sooner or later the Council will dispose of our piles of debris!
January 19th…
Section F is looking better and better. A few more brambles cut (aside from those we’re leaving in place), a lot of raking out, and we’re getting there. Behind that large monument to David Ramsay Hay there were so many brambles that we couldn’t get at the Himalayan Balsam! Now we see bulb shoots we’d never been able to see before and we’ve planted some shrubs. But it seems that we missed a stick.
We knew that during the week the Council crew had been in to shift some of our piles of debris and to burn others. It’s a very labour-intensive task, takes ages, and the Council is chronically understaffed. So we were VERY happy to see the difference today!
The campaign has entered its last week. With only a few days left, and still a lot to go, please pledge and spread the word! (If you have any problems with payment, please contact Natalia or The friends of Warriston Cemetery through this page or via FaceBook.)
“In Loving Memory Of” is a short creative documentary about Warriston Cemetery, a hidden gem in the Scottish capital, Edinburgh. It is a magical, secret garden, walled, overgrown with ivy and full of life. The film features the Friends of Warriston Cemetery whose mission is to uncover some of the forgotten Victorian treasures. The story was developed through the Scottish Documentary Institute’s Bridging the Gap programme. Now in filming stage, but we need your help with post-production costs!
Natalia is an independent filmmaker who is raising funds in order for her film to be completed to a high standard. A project such as this requires a professional post-production team including editor, colourist, sound designer and composer. There is also rental of sound recording equipment and facilities to pay for as well as the likes of promotional material and festival entry fees etc.
“In return for your pledge you get perks like a personal tour of the cemetery (plenty of secrets to tell) or an original photo print of the place in its full beauty.”
Has someone lost these sunglasses? They’re not quite in pristine condition but if you want them back and can prove they belong to you, please let us know.
A short documentary about a cemetery full of life.
“In Loving Memory Of is a short creative documentary about Warriston Cemetery, a hidden gem in the Scottish capital, Edinburgh. It is a magical, secret garden, walled, overgrown with ivy and full of life. The film features the Friends of Warriston Cemetery whose mission is to uncover some of the forgotten Victorian treasures. The story was developed through the Scottish Documentary Institute’s Bridging the Gap programme. Now in filming stage, but we need your help with post-production costs!”
Natalia is an independent filmmaker who is raising funds in order for her film to be completed to a high standard. A project such as this requires a professional post-production team including editor, colourist, sound designer and composer. There is also rental of sound recording equipment and facilities to pay for as well as the likes of promotional material and festival entry fees etc.
Please visit Natalia’s project page to see how you can support her work. Here is the link…
“In return for your pledge you get perks like a personal tour of the cemetery (plenty of secrets to tell) or an original photo print of the place in its full beauty.”
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February 2nd…
The first daffodils begin to appear…
Next – A pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers. They were having great fun chasing each other across a few sections…
February 3rd…
Who knew that flowers could read? Despite all the cold and wind and rain and snow and hard frost, this plant took heart from the words behind…
February 5th…
Treecreeper. They like a change from trees now and then…
February 6th…
Great Spotted Woodpecker…
February 9th…
Snowdrops. Robin. Mr Duncan. Buzzards. Bullfinch…
February 11th…
This and that, here and there…
Goldcrest…
February 12th…
City of Edinburgh Council notice board. Installed today…
February 15th…
The local prison has a scheme whereby donated garden tools are reconditioned and then given to voluntary groups. We received such a batch today! Here they are – wrapped, unwrapped and two little ‘uns in use…
February 16th…
February 17th…
This area is supposed to be a triangular “clearing” between sections. We’ve cleared it before, but the weeds they keep a-growing. So, weeds cut down again and this mass of snowdrops can be enjoyed in their full glory…
This urn was intriguing, had to be rolled around. Unfortunately, not in the best light! It’s part of the gravestone which commemorates the first burial at Warriston. The neighbouring stone had a detail begging to be cleared too. And they also have some snowdrops! Lots of snowdrops around, which is lovely to see…
February 18th…
February 20th…
A beautiful morning today, with that angled February sunshine coming through the bare deciduous trees to light up the gravestones. When we started four-and-a-half years ago, you couldn’t see through this section. Some ivy has grown back, but it’s nowhere near as bad…
