Work is now underway to create a memorial garden at Alderley Edge cemetery.
Cheshire East Council is working with Alderley Edge Parish Council, Orbitas (who manage bereavement services) and representatives of The Friends of the Cemetery to create a special area which will be located about half way up the cemetery on the left hand side.
All the asbestos which was dumped in the cemetery was removed in December and the site has been cleared. An old shed has been removed and the team are setting out the drainage for the site, which is particularly wet.
Following the site clearance the general consensus was that the garden's appearance would be diminished by patching up the old hedging, therefore they decided to remove the hedge entirely and plant a 5ft conifer hedge all around the garden - with the exception of the entranceway where they are looking to train the growth to form an archway.
The initial plan is to divide the memorial garden so two thirds is allocated to adults and one third will be a special children's area.
Chris Heathcote, Bereavement Services Officer, explained "We have drawn up a rough draft of what we would like the garden to look like, initially we will not have sufficient funds to complete the garden and for that reason we are laying turf to the two side sections (excluding the baby garden) and will concentrate on developing the top section and the baby garden.
"We are looking to selling ash vaults in the top section and a curved Sanctum 12, the sales of these will provide the funds to purchase further memorials and complete the garden."
The project is being funded by Cheshire East Council and it is hoped that the memorial garden will be open by April.
Comments
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If any generous person or organisation would like to contribute, please contact me, via the Parish Council Clerk.
If you'd like more details, have a look at the Parish Council website.
May I offer thanks for help to Georgina Speake and Councillors Sue Joseph and Mel. Connor.
I have looked at the PC website and can find no reference to the development of a Memorial Garden.
Can you confirm that there will be no changes to existing grave plots and or memorial stones?
I would much appreciate your reassurance on this.
sorry re. PC website; I'd assumed that the info. would be there by now, so I'll chase it up.
No disturbance to existing plots or stones: the land to be used formerly had an old shed, overgrown vegetation and rubbish on it.
If you visit, the land is about half-way into the graveyard and then over by the metal railings on the left hand edge of the graveyard.
I appreciate your clarification and applaud the good work that is being done to maintain this special place.
slight probs. in getting the brochure photos onto the P.C. website: as an I.T. dinosaur, I have no understanding of said problem. Our very capable Hall manager (Ashley) is trying his hardest. If we can't manage it,you can if you wish, get an email address to me and I'll send it that way.
Must away to sharpen my quill !