‘Arnos Vale continues to provide a peaceful escape for walks and wellbeing’

Everyone here at Arnos Vale Cemetery has been bowled over by the generosity of the people of Bristol and we are hugely grateful.

Thanks to wonderful donations and messages we received during our Christmas Appeal, together we have raised £12,700.

As a working cemetery, many people presume we receive regular funding from the council or government. But that’s not the case for us. Arnos Vale Cemetery is a registered charity.

Back in the 1980s and 90s, we were saved from sale and development by the community for the community. Arnos Vale Cemetery Trust was formed shortly afterwards to preserve and enhance the 45-acre site.

We are enormously proud of what has been achieved since this time. We created 54 income streams and, together with the help of our visitors and supporters, we grew stronger.

However, with most of our income now lost due to the pandemic, we are once again fighting tooth and nail to protect this special place.

Arnos Vale is 45 green acres of spectacular Victorian garden cemetery. – photo: Bronwen Summerwill

We always say that we’re a place of love. We receive hundreds of messages about how our visitors love visiting and many of the headstones mention ‘loved by’, ‘beloved’ or simply ‘love’, and it is this love for Arnos Vale that we all share.

The team here are committed to sharing and protecting this special place. Our history has cemented the importance of Arnos Vale to the people of Bristol and, yet again, we are feeling this community spirit. We will carry that into 2021 and beyond.

Going into 2021, we are aware that many people love visiting Arnos Vale to visit graves and remember loved ones, to improve wellbeing, engage with nature and say ‘I do’.

We hear how much people enjoy exploring our paths and heritage or reading a book on a bench. We love people visiting and enjoy hearing their stories.

As you can imagine, we are eager to look to the future and get on with what we do best. Much of what we do as a community hub doesn’t generate any income.

The landscape that so many people enjoy needs extensive maintenance and our fundraising will allow us to continue with this important work.

Arnos Vale Cemetery receives no funding from the city council or government – photo: Buffy Jones

When the situation allows, we will be delighted to once again support school children with forest schools and after school clubs. We’ll invite local groups to work with us on our community garden and restart our tours, wellbeing workshops and events.

We’ve learnt so much over the last few months and cannot wait to tell the many stories that Arnos Vale holds.

During another lockdown, our woodland and cemetery helps by providing a peaceful escape for walks and wellbeing.

Your support is a lifeline for our local community. Every donation helps to preserve this special place for the months and years to come.

We are enormously grateful for your kindness. All funds we raise are being put into maintaining our site in such difficult times.

Thank you so much, once again, for your kindness and generosity. We are enormously grateful.

Sophie Kinsman is the fundraising officer at Arnos Vale Cemetery. Main photo: Buffy Jones

Read more: Arnos Vale Cemetery raises funds to rebuild