Arnos Vale calls on supporters to spring to action
Posted on: 13 Apr 2016In just 12 weeks the Heritage Lottery Fund’s support package for Arnos Vale Cemetery ends. This means there are just 12 weeks more for those who enjoy the landscape to support this beloved Bristol green space and donate and have their money doubled. The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) pledge to match every £1 donated to Arnos Vale up to £500,000 so as a city we can literally double our efforts. It’s a chance for Bristol to ensure its much-loved garden cemetery is here "For a Lifetime".
The main goal of the Arnos Vale Cemetery Trust is to preserve the site for future generations, which is a place of respect for over 300,000 people buried and remembered. It is also a place when there is an abundance of wildlife and plants which thrive in the green and natural environment. Arnos Vale Cemetery can be booked for a whole range of events and special occasions such as corporate, fundraising and charity events, and it is a beautiful, unforgettable venue for a wedding. There is also a gift shop on-site selling Bristol Blue Glass, unique cards and confectionery, while the Atrium Cafe is the perfect place to sit down for a cup of tea and a slice of homemade cake.
Today’s Arnos Vale is well-loved as a nature conservation area, an historical landscape, a place for learning and business, a venue for arts events (including theatre and cinema), and somewhere to enjoy a coffee. But not all Bristolians know that Arnos Vale is still a working cemetery and the final resting place for local people to the present day. Even fewer recognise that it is run by a charity, Arnos Vale Cemetery Trust (AVCT) that receives no funding from the Council, generating all the income that keeps the site open for the public itself.
If anyone would like to give to Arnos Vale’s “For a Lifetime” fund and have their donation doubled before the end of June, you can give in the following ways: Text JUNE 16 £5 or JUNE16 £10 to 70070 or click the ‘Donate Now’ button at the top of Arnos Vale’s Facebook page or visit arnosvale.org.uk.
Since re-opening to the public six years ago, Arnos Vale Cemetery has developed into a community hub that is very much alive. The years of campaigning to save, and then restore, the once neglected landscape are memories: Arnos Vale Cemetery is now restored, renovated and rejuvenated and is now one of Bristol’s favourite places to visit (ranking in the top 10 on TripAdvisor).
“Arnos Vale is a community project and aims to both remember and celebrate life. With so many businesses, families, community groups, schools and performing arts organisations visiting the site, we touch the lives of around 35,000 people each year. Arnos Vale really is something unique among cemeteries both in the UK and internationally” explains CEO Mike Coe.
“This really is the last chance for us to make use of the matched funding pledge from the Heritage Lottery Fund and there is still £250,000 to claim. If we don’t reach our target this money will be lost to Bristol forever ”
Recent improvements at the cemetery include increasing the space inside the Grade II listed Spielman Centre hall to create an even better venue for weddings, parties, community groups and business events; and the upcoming launch of a brand new website with clearer information, a better events booking system and information on everything that visitors and supporters need to know about what’s on, how we work and how to get involved.
Local photographer Ian Coombs is a regular visitor to the 45-acre landscape “I have lived in Arnos Vale for over 30 years. In that time I have seen the cemetery go from rack and ruin to the place of excellence it is today. It’s a real asset to the local community and a gem is Bristol’s crown which we should all be very proud of.”
For more information contact Development Manager, Kate Parsons on 0117 971 9117 ext 213 or kate.parsons@arnosvale.org.uk
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Born and raised in the suburbs of Swansea, Jimmy moved to Bristol back in 2004 to attend university. Passionate about live music, sport, science and nature, he can usually be found walking his cocker spaniel Baxter at any number of green spots around the city. Call James on 078 9999 3534 or email Editor@365Bristol.com.
