Aim

To equip and empower our volunteers to maintain and nurture a well loved nature reserve and heritage park in the heart of our community.

Sheffield General Cemetery Trust is a registered charity (no. 1103158) dedicated to promoting and restoring the General Cemetery (located in the city of Sheffield UK) and to protecting it as a unique heritage site and haven for wildlife.

Established in 1836 with its final burial in 1978, the cemetery now serves as a cherished green space in the heart of Sheffield.

ABOUT US

Once somber and inaccessible, our volunteers over the last 30 years have transformed the cemetery into a beautiful park envisioned by the Victorians. Adorned with an abundance of mature trees and wildlife, the cemetery is a Grade II* listed landscape with three Grade II* and seven Grade II listed buildings and monuments, is a Local Wildlife Site (LWS) and a Local Nature Reserve (LNR).

The Sheffield General Cemetery Trust (SGCT), formerly Friends of the General Cemetery (FOGC), oversees various activities:

• Education tours and workshops
• Conservation work to maintain and enhance the heritage and landscape
• Historical research of the Cemetery and its occupants
• Restoration and maintenance of the Grade II* listed buildings
• Developing and managing The Samuel Worth Chapel as a new events venue

OUR GOAL

Our aim is to encourage everyone to enjoy this historical site by walking its paths, learning its history or simply as a quiet place to sit and contemplate.

There is a growing recognition that parks in cities are also important for preparing and protecting against climate change. Parks provide cool shady areas during extreme heat-waves which is vital for both people and wildlife. During periods of heavy rain, parks can reduce flooding by acting as a natural sponge for excess water which can alleviate flooding. Like many urban parks, Sheffield General Cemetery forms part of a network of green corridors encouraging people to get out of their cars and walk or cycle.

The volunteers have worked for over 30 years to make this landscape a safe haven for wildlife and a unique green-space for Sheffield. We want to be able to continue to support our volunteers in promoting and restoring this historic site while protecting its wildlife habitats. In doing so, we are able to provide unique volunteering opportunities that support mental health, climate and biodiversity in this beautiful Garden of the Dead.

HOW FUNDS WILL BE SPENT

Donations to the Sheffield General Cemetery Trust are really important. They help us to keep the Cemetery’s parkland, buildings and natural setting beautiful and safe for our visitors and to support new initiatives. 

Balancing the needs of nature and people critical now and in the future, we use donations, legacies and money raised from fundraising activities to ensure that the Cemetery is kept as an openly accessible space and are a safe haven for wildlife – our grounds never close, and it takes a lot of work to keep the site looking it's best and to continue to develop them for the benefit of Sheffielders and visitors.

Additionally, to ensure there are no barriers to volunteering, such as income or ability, we need funds to continually purchase the required equipment for restoration work and retain core staff. As an example, some volunteers struggle to work on site as they get older – we want to provide adapted equipment such as power grip secateurs, or raised kneeling stools so they can continue to volunteer in a place they love.

Your support ensures that the Trust can continue achieve these aims.

Examples of costs:

• £2.50 buys us a branded high vis vest
• £8 buys us leather gloves for protection
• £12 pays for a raised kneeler with handles (suitable for those with knee problems)
• £25 buys us a pair of power grip secateurs (suitable for those with weak grip)
• £35 buy a pair of long handled shears (suitable for those with bad backs)
• £40 buys a pair of waterproof work boots
• £45 buys a waterproof jacket
• £100 pays for a staff member to support volunteering for one day.

WHY DONATE TO US?

Being a smaller charity, every donation, no matter the size, significantly impacts our ability to carry out our important initiatives. 

• You will be supporting the work we do to maintain and improve the Cemetery landscape, to communicate its rich history and wildlife through our events, publication, exhibitions, guided and downloadable tours, workshop activities, school visits and talks to local community organisations.
• You will be enabling the trust to hold inclusive events which celebrate the local area’s diverse talents.
• You will help us to support wildlife by undertaking surveys which allow us to monitor the health of the cemetery's wildlife and take steps to restore and improve habitats based on this data.

Donations and legacies are vital for maintaining the cemetery's unique landscape and accessibility. Your support directly contributes to our mission of preserving history and nature for all to enjoy.

This project successfully funded on 27th July 2024