Sheffield General Cemetery

Sheffield City Council was awarded £3 million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund’s Parks for People programme as part of an overall £3.8 million programme of investment which safeguards the General Cemetery for the benefit of present and future communities.

The project was a further step on the journey to revive the General Cemetery as a well-used heritage green space, enjoyed by local and special interest communities alike, where everyone feels welcome to relax and connect with the natural environment and buildings and cultural heritage of the Park.

The repair, conservation and improvement works should have balanced the needs of biodiversity, conservation of historic structures and optimising the health and well-being benefits of access to green space for local people.  The project has improved information, interpretation and visitor welcome, stabilised the unique Catacombs, repaired significant memorials and improved the accessibility of pathways, as well as supported community activities and volunteering.  As part of this project, the Parks and Countryside Service will develop a 10 year management plan to provide for the long term care of the General Cemetery.

A vision at the start of the project was: