From small acorns
We were delighted to host the Plymouth Tree Partnership’s 20th anniversary celebration this month.
More than 60 guests enjoyed a guided walk around the 34 acre cemetery grounds, which has beautiful trees to admire, before presentations were held in the Visitor Centre Chapel with refreshments.
Partnership Secretary Andrew Young thanked our Volunteer Vivien Warne for looking after them so well. He said: “The visitor centre was the perfect venue for us, whilst you and the team ensured we lacked for nothing. Everyone had a pleasant time and we are most grateful for making it such a memorable occasion.”
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Our Visitor Centre Chapel, Northey Room and Victorian Chapel are available for hire for private functions and meetings on our cemetery site. We have free parking, toilet and cafe facilities including a licence to serve alcohol. Bookings are welcome. Call 01752 665442 with enquiries.
A place for the health and wellbeing of the living
Ford Park Cemetery is supporting a special awareness week promoting the life-enhancing benefits cemeteries play in the community.
As a proud member of the Association of Significant Cemeteries in Europe (ASCE) Ford Park is echoing the key message of the Discovering European Cemeteries 2023 week starting 26th May.
Naturally many only think of cemeteries as being a place for those whose lives have ceased but nothing could be further from the reality.
Trustee Wendy Coulton said: “Our cemetery is very much a community hub for a wide range of activities and opportunities for volunteering. We connect with different groups and individuals who are interested in what our cemetery has to offer in addition to the funerals which take place.
“Walking and making time to take a breath and notice what is around us in nature is recognised as a tonic for our mental and physical health and wellbeing. We organise guided themed walks around the cemetery throughout the year but the cemetery is open to anyone who appreciates having a beautiful green space in the heart of a city. Walking a lap or more of our 34 acre site can work wonders for your mood.
“For those who love gardening - which again is acknowledged for its therapeutic benefits - or who just want to get more active we have simple light tasks around the cemetery which help us to keep it maintained.
“And of course connecting with people keeps loneliness from social isolation at bay. Friendships are formed and there is untold rewards from giving your time and skills to a good cause such as our cemetery which is run by a charitable trust.
“So next time you pass our cemetery come in and see for yourself why it serves the living as much as those who have passed.”
Pictured: Every Wednesday morning these ladies come together to knit, crochet and make crafts which are then sold at our events to raise funds for our work here at Ford Park Cemetery. It’s also a much valued opportunity to catch up with like-minded people over a cuppa.
Blooming marvellous
It’s all in the detail when it comes to ensuring the memory of those who sacrificed their lives for the freedoms of today are honoured with the diligent upkeep of their graves at Ford Park Cemetery.
Shelley Winfield and Glyn Rogers (Pictured right) generously give hours of their time to tend to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and Ministry of Defence graves on our site.
This week they have been working their maintenance magic and the fruits of their labour will be seen by those who come to a War Graves free guided tour taking place on Tuesday 23rd May 2023.
Starting at 11am from the Cross of Sacrifice the walk will be an opportunity to learn how the vision of one man is now evident worldwide with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) cemeteries and work. And how behind every name on a headstone there are stories of selfless courage.
The warmer weather has helped the carefully planted borders to blossom, including the stunning Rose (pictured) called Trumpeter rose.
The symbolism of the border planting is really quite simple.
As most of the CWGC large plots are in France and Belgium the Horticultural designers at the time (just after the first world war) wanted to create a little bit of England. So the border plant schemes were designed to try and reflect a typical English garden, hence the use of roses in between the headstones.
Each CWGC headstone border is planted with a mixture of floribunda roses and herbaceous perennials. Low-growing plants are chosen for areas immediately in front of headstones, ensuring that inscriptions are not obscured and preventing soil from splashing back during rain.
Dirty old town - Plymouth of the past
As challenging as times are today our basic living standards in terms of public hygiene and spread of common diseases has greatly improved since the 19th century.
Take a step back in time with our guided walk this month and exhibition “The Dirty Old Town” at Ford Park Cemetery.
Walk information
Living conditions with poverty and poor sanitation, work conditions and the impact of common diseases such as cholera on our local community will be explored as you walk around our historic cemetery on a 1.5 hour guided tour on Sunday 21st May from 2pm.
Stout sensible footwear is advised, children under 14 must be supervised by a responsible adult and dogs on leads can attend.
Refreshments will be available in our cafe afterwards.
Exhibition information
Our first class heritage research volunteers have fascinating stories to tell and historical facts to share on the walk and through the exhibition which will be open to the public in the Visitor Centre Chapel from 21 May until 22 June on Tuesdays and Thursday from 10.30am-3.30pm and weekends from 12.30pm-3.30pm.
The walk and exhibition are free of charge but donations to support our efforts as a charitable trust are always welcome and appreciated.
Simplicity in life is beautiful - a lesson for us all
Ford Park Cemetery was the back drop for filming for Plymouth university arts student Isla Ostler’s project.
Isla (Pictured right), who is studying Performing and Production Arts, chose the cemetery as the setting for her film which featured two characters - one portraying a terminally ill person (played by Erin Greehough) who is having a conversation with the other representing death (Jason Williams).
The main message of her film was that the simplicity of life is beautiful and that you don’t need to have achieved something immense for your life to be worthwhile.
Trustee Wendy Coulton says: “As a funeral celebrant I was heartened by the message of Isla’s film. I have yet to conduct a service honouring a life which rated material possessions or social status above how someone made us feel. It is the little things which count and stay with us in our memories.
“It was a pleasure for us to assist Isla with her arts project.
I was particularly impressed when filming activity, which was taking place at a memorial bench, was paused when some visitors arrived to pay their respects in the vicinity of that bench. Isla and her colleagues quietly stepped back and moved away from that part of the cemetery to give the visitors privacy.
We wish Isla the very best with her studies and future.”
Donate
Please consider supporting our efforts.
Events
Tickets £10 from the cemetery office
Including songs from the Forties
Tickets £12 from the Cemetery office
Opening Hours
Grounds
9 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. (Summer Time)
9 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. (Winter Time)
Office
10 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. (Mon to Fri)
Vehicular access is available whenever the grounds are open.
Visitor Centre Exhibition
Building Plymouth Exhibition - Architects & Architecture
From Sunday 7th April until Thursday 23rd May
Opening Times
Tuesdays and Thursdays 10.30am to 3.30pm
Sundays 11.30pm - 3.30pm
Craft Club
The Craft Club meets weekly in the Northey Room between 11.00am - 3.00pm every Wednesday - Free tea & coffee - bring your own food or sandwiches available to purchase from the cafe. All welcome.
Puzzle Swap Club
Twice weekly in the Coffee Shop Tuesday & Thursday 10:30 to 3:30 also Saturday & Sunday 12:30 to 3:30 - All welcome.