Working Parties will be meeting up at Orleton Memorial Gardens on the dates below. The work is not heavy and we will also be noting down the animals and plants we find. Please do feel free to come and join us. Children under 11 must be accompanied by an adult. You work in the garden at your own risk. We meet up at 11am.

Tuesday 29th April
Tuesday 10th June
Tuesday 22nd July

The Orleton Parish Council became the Trustees of this area in 2004 and they called it Orleton Memorial Gardens. The Charity Commission was already involved and when the last member of the Plymouth Brethren died in Leominster they helped the Orleton Parish Council become the Trustees.

For the last 20 years the burial ground had been cared for by John Bertinant, who lives next door to the area. As he is now into his 90's it was time someone gave him a hand. The Parish Council were persuaded to do that. Orleton Parish Council was very happy to hand over the care of this site to a group who wished to run a 'Caring for God's Acre' project. The Parish Council cut the grass once a year but other than that leaves the care of burial ground to the group, now called 'The Hoe'.

The 'Caring for God's Acre' group was created formally on 13th February 2005 when it held its first AGM. The meeting decided to call the group 'The Hoe' for short, which stands for Helping Orleton's Environment. The official name is Orleton Memorial Gardens 'Caring for God's Acre' Group. A constitution was accepted and a programme for the future discussed. The membership of the group is open to anyone, but children under 11 need to be accompanied by a responsible adult.

The first major event was a blessing of the ground by Revd. Nick Read, on 20th March 2005 at 3pm.

The earliest grave stone is from 1868; Jane Hawkins who died aged 57. The last stone laid was in 1937 for Robert Twiddy Kennet at the age of 75. There are thought to be two graves from the late 1960's near the back of the garden but they are unmarked. The small stones near the front mark children's graves. The Herefordshire Family History Society visited the site in 1995 and there is a copy of the survey kept with the 'Caring for God's Acre' details if anyone would like to study it. There are a few who still remember the area, with the chapel attached. The chapel was sold, over 40 years ago, to a Mr Collins, who turned it into a dwelling. A house was then built on adjoining land and steps put in for public access. Gates were fitted to this entrance, and to the war memorial, to stop cattle getting in. The small building which was used as a mortuary still remains.

Sue Cooper, from the 'Caring for God's Acre' office in Leominster organised a professional survey to be done in the summer of 2004. The Conservation Management Plan was produced for the ground from these studies. The Garden is placed centrally in the village and everyone is welcome to walk round. You do so at your own risk though.

Since then the nature in the gardens has been observed monthly. Regular articles have been put into the Grapevine and Orleton School has used it to study wildlife. We are always on the lookout for more people to join us. We need more people to study and record the nature there and helpers for grass and hedge cutting. However it belongs to the whole community of Orleton and is a quiet oasis in the village for everyone to enjoy.

This site is of particular interest because the soil and plants have not been altered for a very long time. It has now been realised that graveyards across the country have this feature and make a significant contribution to our understanding of Nature.

If you want to know more contact Barbara (secretary of 'Hoe') on 01568 780842

Orleton Memorial Gardens posters / cards

Cards and posters of Orleton Memorial Gardens throughout 2007 are now on sale and can be bought by sending us a cheque (email Christina@OrletonVillage.co.uk if you'd like the address). Cards are £2 each while the posters are £10 each (plus postage and packing). Pictures of both below, designed and photographed by Liz Howard.