Welcome To The Friends of Woodgrange Park Cemetery

FOWPC

Woodgrange Park Cemetery is situated in the London Borough of Newham, an area that has become known throughout the world recently due to the events of the London Borough of Newham becoming the host for the 2012 Olympic Village and Woodgrange Park Cemetery is only a stones throw away from one of the most important developments in London today. An area, which today is rich in diversity and culture as the East End of London was way back in the days when this cemetery first opened its gates in 1889. Since those days of the late Victorian era our cemetery has a wealth of history that has established itself not only into the local history books but none other then the history books of our parliament, for Woodgrange Park Cemetery has its very own Act of Parliament, which is correctly titled Woodgrange Park Cemetery Act 1993. We are the only cemetery whom to date in the UK can acclaim such an achievement, the Act was granted after many years of legal battles between us the Friends of Woodgrange Park Cemetery and government members to stop the ever desire of the cemeteries present owners Badgehurst Ltd to sell off the land to property developers. 

Many years of lobbying, petitions and days were spent by the original members of the Friends of Woodgrange Park Cemetery and all of their time it must be noted, was given freely to support a cause, of honouring the many family members who have been interred within the cemetery over its long history to not to be disturbed. But unfortunately we were not successful in all that we strongly petitioned for, it is with great sadness that a small part of the cemetery was sold off for the development to make way for a small housing estate to be built on the north east end of the cemetery grounds. As for the remains that were taken from this area of the cemetery, we are pleased to inform everyone that these remains were interred into another area of the cemetery, which is now known as the Memorial Garden of Remembrance. It is the Friends of Woodgrange Park Cemetery who still support the Memorial Garden of Remembrance and its place within the cemetery, which is still under construction, as we will soon be planting Rose bushes and supplying wooden benches for visiting relatives too use. There is also the long awaited Book of Remembrance that will soon be prepared, holding all those names that were removed from their original resting place to the new Memorial Garden of Remembrance. 
 

Woodgrange Park Cemetery is possibly the least known of the Victorian Cemeteries in London today. It has always been privately owned, with various owners over the years, it was first commissioned on what was then open agricultural land. On entering the cemetery gates today, you can still see the magnificent Victorian monuments all having been erected in memory of the most important citizens of their day, which are seen as a total contrast to the small headstones placed throughout the cemetery now. 

 
The cemetery is also a haven for natural wildlife with several species of birds and butterflies often seen hovering above the grey stone monuments bringing a splash of colour on many a spring day. Then there are the four-legged friends of wildlife, namely the grey squirrels seen most times scampering around the large lined trees upon entrance of the cemetery gates. But we must not forget the very prominent wildlife of the great Japanese Knotweed that is forever outstanding as you walk the pathways of the cemetery’s landscape.

The Victorians introduced the Japanese Knotweed as an ornamental plant during the 1800s. It can now be commonly seen and found today along railway lines, riverbanks, roads, footpaths, graveyards, derelict sites and more or less anywhere that it can thrive, even growing out of lamp post sites. Often these growth sites have come about due to the Japanese Knotweed having been dumped, dropped or deposited as waste.

 
Japanese Knotweed will form itself into large dense clumps and will grow up to three metres in height. Its speed in growth can be as much as 2cm per day and will grow in any type of soil for this natural weed is considered to be a strong harsh robust plant that will probably never be diminished from the cemetery landscape. The environmental issues associated with Japanese Knotweed come under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 it is an offence ‘to plant or otherwise encourage’ the growth of Japanese Knotweed. This could include cutting the plant or roots and disturbing surrounding soil if not correctly managed. Any Japanese Knotweed polluted soil or plant material that is discarded, should be classed as 'controlled waste' and should be accompanied by appropriate Waste Transfer documentation. So we always advise that care should be taken when trying to clear an area that is over grown within the cemetery of Japanese Knotweed.

© 2015 www.fowpc.co.uk

Website design by Vikatec