CouncilTower Hamlets Cemetery Park & Ackroyd Drive Nature Reserve
Tower Hamlets Cemetery, one of London's 'Magnificent Seven' cemeteries was opened for burials in 1841. Burials ceased in 1966, and the Greater London Council took it over as a public park in 1986. With abolition of the GLC, it passed to the borough of Tower Hamlets.
n 1990 the 'Friends' were formed and since then working in partnership with the borough council, have been very active in promoting the park, increasing the knowledge of its wildlife and its history (led by the East London History Society), running a programme of public events, obtaining funding to improve the site for people and for nature, and involving volunteers in dealing progressively with the legacy of decades of neglect.
In 1993 the Soanes Centre, within the Park, opened offering programmes of education in the natural environment based on the ponds and the flower rich woodlands and meadows in the park.
Within recent years additions have been made to the park. One is scrap yard meadows whose name indicates its former use. The flower rich meadow now has a chalk maze based on a classical design. The other is Ackroyd Drive Greenlink on the Leopold Estate; this acts a green corridor between the Cemetery Park and Cemetery Park and Mile End Park.
The Park is within a conservation area, is an English Heritage Grade 2 listed Monument, is a site of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation. In 2001 the Park and Ackroyd Drive together became the boroughs first Local Nature Reserve. The 'Friends' patron, David Bellamy was present at the declaration ceremony.
The site has a network of paths that take you on a tour around wonderful woodlands taking in unique and special wildflower meadows. On your tour you will see many birds and butterflies.
Take part in our parks improvement survey and have your say:
- To complete the questionnaire online go to www.greenstat.org.uk
For more information please contact the Parks & Open Spaces Service on 020 7364 3074 or e-mail parks@towerhamlets.gov.uk
