More than 5,000 people visited Arnos Vale Cemetery over the May Bank Holiday weekend to see the results of a £5m restoration project and enjoy a programme of guided walks, skills demonstrations, new exhibitions and live music. The number is believed to be a record for the parkland, which opened in 1839 as one of Britain’s first Victorian garden cemeteries and has now been transformed into a heritage, wildlife, family history and education centre with the help of funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Bristol City Council, English Heritage and many others.

Rachel Schofield, Chief Executive of the Charitable Trust which has taken on the preservation and management of Arnos Vale, says: “We could not have hoped for a better re-launch of this beautiful place. Everyone who came seemed totally enchanted by the setting, our fascinating memorials and the many new ways in which we are sharing Arnos Vale’s fascinating stories. We were also delighted by the mix of visitors – some who remembered the sad years of neglect or who have family associations, going back generations; others encountering Arnos Vale for the first time”.

As well as showcasing the achievements of recent years, the weekend was also an opportunity for the Arnos Vale Cemetery Trust to recruit more volunteers to help with future conservation work and fund-raising. Further offers of support are welcome. For more details, please see Get Involved.