Nature And Landscape

Revitalisation of Elswick's Garden Cemeteries: The Story of Westgate Hill and St John's

St John’s and Westgate Hill cemeteries are at risk. In deprived communities, they are important green spaces, but the deteriorating state of the buildings and landscape negatively impacts how people feel about their local area. The community’s long-term vision is to save the cemeteries, secure their sustainable future and remove them from the national heritage at risk register. Following the pilot scheme, through consultation, this project forms the vital next stage, which will use three themes: arts, nature, and heritage, to fully involve local people to shape the future of the cemeteries. It also enables research and survey work to better understand the cemeteries’ significance. By empowering local people to have a say about what happens in their local area, and exploring options for uses that preserve the historic character of the cemeteries, we can look towards the future and secure funding to save the sites.