I’ve been with FLC since its  beginning, and it’s great to see how we’ve grown since then. I’m particularly interested in environmental issues, so joined the group hoping to help build the cemetery as a greenspace, not just for people to enjoy, but to also promote local wildlife. 

I’m also interested in the cemetery's rich history and my green thumb skills could certainly do with some work! Every member has a different motivation for joining, and It’s this diversity that will help us make the cemetery a community space for everyone.

I have lived in Lancaster for 27 years and worked in healthcare in the surrounding area until I became semi-retired in 202I. 

I  joined the Friends of Lancaster Cemetery initially with an interest in improving the green space by helping to maintain the park and graves. As the group has grown, our vision has expanded and I am excited to be involved in developing the park and chapel into a valuable resource for the local community. 

I first started visiting Lancaster Cemetery over 30 years ago and have always found it a peaceful and inspiring place to be. When the opportunity came to help set up a Friends group I was more than happy to be involved. 

We have some big aspirations and are taking our lead from other such groups across the country that have helped bring cemeteries like Lancaster into greater public use. I believe that whilst still being respectful to its main purpose as a place of personal reflection and rememberance, the cemetery could be an even more wonderful public space that could be developed further to encourage greater wildlife and biodiversity, to celebrate heritage and community and improve wellbeing.

When I moved to Lancaster over 3 years ago for my graduate studies, I was keen to find ways to serve the community, particularly anything to do with community greenspaces. I came across the efforts to start a friends group for the Lancaster Cemetery and have thoroughly enjoyed working with the other members of the group to help the cemetery continue to be a peaceful and beautiful place for our community.