Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18Rake Lane Cemetery Cemeteries and crematoria Cemeteries, crematoria and burial grounds are often highly valued by the public. Not only do they provide a spiritual, tranquil place for friends and relatives to come to remember their loved ones, they can also provide communities with accessible green space of cultural, ecological and historic importance. The Green Flag Award recognises the importance of this type of space and rewards good management and provision. Benefits • Address the expectations of the public and users of your cemetery by providing a peaceful, appealing and well-managed green space • Promote the importance of effective management and maintenance • Retain the historical or ecological significance of a cemetery or burial ground • Integrate cemeteries and burial grounds into wider green space management strategies • Reduce incidents of vandalism and other anti social behaviour Rake Lane Cemetery, Wallasey Faced with budget cuts, Rake Lane Cemetery in Wirral implemented a number of efficiency measures that not only increased the visual appeal of the cemetery but also attracted bees and butterflies to the site. Annual bedding was replaced with perennial planting that only needs to be replaced every five to seven years. Starting in just one area of the cemetery, they planted several different types of lavender that require little maintenance, is low-growing to avoid obscuring grave stones and suits the loam soil. Consultation with the public on the scheme received very positive feedback. So much so that the following autumn, they introduced a number of different types of winter and spring flowering heathers in addition to two types of herbs (3,000 new plants in total). The change in planting strategy has reduced maintenance costs, but has also meant that all year round at least one area of the site will be in full bloom – attracting biodiversity as well as providing a pleasant display for visitors. “It’s the best award you can get for a cemetery.” Terry Bainbridge, Wirral Council 7