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.
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 as well as a range of woodland fungi. (Please note it is not advised to collect fungi for consumption here due to Victorian funerary practices which may result in led and arsenic contamination in fungi).
Open rides are managed for their grassland habitat offering foraging opportunities for insects and the cemetery is noted for several rare species including bees, moths and butterflies.
For more information on the biodiversity of Abney Park Cemetery visit their web site:Â Â https://abneypark.org/biodiversity
- Birders paradise
- Fascinating monuments
- Great for fungi
- Lichen haven
- Peaceful space for quiet reflection
- Wild flower Areas in spring/summer
- Wildlife haven
There is level access via the main entrance on Stoke Newington High Street.
The entrance at Church Street has 5 steps and small uneven paths into site.
The internal drive from the main entrance is cobbled and the major paths within the park are solid, but uneven in places and can be slippery and slightly muddy when wet.
Smaller paths can be narrow, uneven and slippery.
There are several benches with back rests dotted around the park.
Please contact info@abneypark.org with any access queries.
By bus
Buses 73, 393 and 476 stop near the Park's Stoke Newington Church Street entrance.
Buses 67, 76, 106, 149, 243, 276, 393 and 476 stop near the Stoke Newington High St entrance.
By rail
Stoke Newington Railway station is 200 metres from the Stoke Newington High St entrance.
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
