We are compiling this directory of flowery burial grounds from across the UK, which we would recommend visiting if you are looking for a well managed site rich in wildlife and heritage. Burial grounds can have a rich array of plants, animals and fungi, and may contain the only surviving area of flower-rich grassland in a parish. All the sites listed here contain this habitat. To see the flowers at their best, late May to mid or end of July is usually the most suitable time to visit. However, do contact the site managers for more specific timings before you visit if this is important to you.
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 of the Wingfield family, the occupants of nearby Ampthill House (which was demolished to make way for housing in the 1950s).
The entire site is a County Wildlife Site on the basis of its acidic and neutral grassland habitats. It also contains many magnificent trees. The PCC are actively managing specific areas of the graveyard to conserve and encourage grassland flowers and have been in receipt of a grant from the Greensand Country Landscape Partnership to assist in this. Wildflowers can be seen at any time of year but the highlights are snowdrops in early Spring and meadow saxifrage in late Spring.
- Birders paradise
- Famous/infamous people's memorials
- Fascinating monuments
- Good accessibility
- Great for fungi
- Lichen haven
- Lychgate
- Peaceful space for quiet reflection
- Stones with stories
- War memorial
- Wild flower Areas in spring/summer
- Wildlife haven
Main paths are tarmac, with a network of grass paths.
Parking available for around 3 cars to the rear of the church via Rectory Lane.
Main paths are tarmac, with a network of grass paths.
There are six wooden benches in the burial ground, with back and armrest.
The map below will take a few seconds to load. You can search for a burial ground either by county, or by the name of the burial ground, or by clicking the markers on the map.
Add your burial ground.
If you would like to nominate a flowery burial ground that you manage for inclusion in our directory, please complete the form here. We will review all submissions before inclusion in the directory, so please understand you won’t see your burial ground immediately.Â
