One of Bristol's best loved open spaces has been presented with a prestigious environmental award - for the second year running.
The cemetery, one of the largest open spaces in south Bristol, is not only used for funerals but also runs a forest school, community events and weddings.
More than 300,000 people are buried or remembered at the cemetery, from much-loved members of ordinary Bristol families to those who changed their world or sacrificed their lives in war.
The cemetery, with its 45 acres of woodland and ancient wildflower meadows, is a popular spot with members of the local community.
The site is home to a rich variety of wildlife including lesser-horseshoe bats, large populations of slow worm and a family of badgers.
The Arnos Vale team and its volunteers work around the clock to look after the site to ensure it can continue to be enjoyed by the local community.
The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for their management across the United Kingdom and around the world.
Arnos Vale Cemetery is one of more than 2,000 sites across the country to collect the award for 2020.
CEO Ellie Collier said, “This award is a real acknowledgment of the hard work and dedication put in by both staff and volunteers, ensure Arnos Vale is a place for everyone to enjoy, explore and love.’
Keep Britain Tidy Chief Executive Allison Ogden-Newton OBE said: “This year, more than ever, our parks and green spaces have been a lifeline and we know that millions of people have used them to relax, meet friends, exercise or simply escape for a short time.
“It is testament to the incredible dedication and hard work of parks staff and volunteers that, despite the challenges that went along with record numbers of visitors, Arnos Vale Cemetery Trust has achieved the highest international standards demanded by the Green Flag Award.”
