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Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park is site where visitors can explore and enjoy a range of habitats and observe the seasons.
The majority of the historic cemetery footprint is woodland, borne from both the historic intentionally planted trees within the original garden-cemetery plans (as we documented in our Conservation Management Plan), self-seeding trees (some of which can become dominant) and intentional new tree planting to support biodiversity.
About a third of the Local Natural Reserve (LNR) is flower-rich meadow, with an outstanding diversity of wildflowers and insects in particular. Encouraging and preserving this requires resources and attention.
These habitats provide important pockets of interest to visitors in the cemetery park, and offer opportunities for nature to flourish. Given the impact of the Bow Gasworks development on habitats in the southern edge of the cemetery park (in particular on shading and wind), we are taking active steps to appropriately mitigate the adverse environmental effects which means some selective clearing alongside diverse planting/seeding to improve the overall environment for nature.
Scrapyard Meadow and the Ackroyd Drive Green Link areas were both housing sites until their destruction in World War Two; their varied soils reflect that history. After decontamination, it was built up with brought-in chalky soil in 2007.
This meadow was created artificially by importing chalk to replicate the conditions of natural chalk grasslands, which are rare and ecologically important habitats. It supports a wide variety of wildflowers, grasses, and invertebrates, contributing to the Cemetery Park’s rich biodiversity.
There are five wildlife ponds within the Cemetery Park which have been developed by the Friends, and which provide tremendous biodiversity value.
Three of our ponds have dipping platforms, making them an important part of our events programme and a resource for visitors ranging from school groups, amateur biologists and professional researchers and entomologists who help us with biological survey & recording work.
Among the woodlands, we have also nurtured a rich groundcover of grasses, wildflowers, bulbs and shrubs. These include some heritage and rare species which provide vital food and some absolutely stunning seasonal flourishes of bulbs which attract and inspire visitors. We are focused on this understory as a rich source of interest and vital space for biodiversity.
“… the bluebells that pop up between the gravestones make for some beautifully spectral scenes.” – Time Out