Woodvale Volunteer Group was formed as a charity on 1st August 2023 as a result of a few friends who shared the same vision.
Working closely with Brighton and Hove City Council, the aims of our group are to supply work day teams for all six council run cemeteries, Woodvale (c.1857, 20.5 acres), Extra Mural Cemetery (c.1851,16.5 acres), City Cemetery (c.1868, 31.5 acres), Hove Cemetery (c.1882, 50 acres), Lawn Memorial Cemetery (c.1963, 36.5 acres) and Portslade Cemetery (c.1872, 7 acres). That is a lot of ground to cover.
Our efforts started in Portslade, the most manageable size cemetery, but our goals are big, and we intend to grow. We are a diverse team with a host of practical skills and routinely maintain the entire site. The grass never stops growing, and when it slows down, the leaves never stop falling, so there is always something to do. Being in Sussex, we have a vast number of flint stone walls and buildings, and we are thrilled to be able to repair and restore them to their original glory. Ground levelling, hedge trimming, litter picking, grave repairs, topiary are just a few of the endless tasks that we undertake.
New volunteers are always welcome, and anyone who wants to pay us a visit can be assured of a warm welcome and a cuppa.