Friends of Great Bowden Cemetery
Introduction
The group was initiated by Alf Herbert after a dedicated campaign to raise awareness of the poor maintenance situation at the cemetery.
The group now formed by keen and committed volunteers ensures the cemetery is looked after.
Working parties as well as a good relationship with Harborough District Council has meant progress is being made to ensure a respectful work ethic and good maintenance practices are continued.
Harborough District Council will continue to provide the essential repairs and maintenance.
There is now a committee operating as The Friends of Great Bowden Cemetery whose mission is "To encourage and support the care and maintenance of Great Bowden Cemetery, preserving a calm and orderly atmosphere for visitors to the final resting place of those they remember."
The committee consists of:-
Chairman - Alf Herbert - 01858 468107
Treasurer - Peter Rhodes
Secretaries - Christine Mitchell 01858 466234 / Sue Coombs
Minutes Secretary - Janet Wells
Members - John Coombs, Jenny Driver, Paul Bennett
Alf Herbert has spent considerable time collating information, recording data and meeting with councillors and land owners in a bid to improve the situation at the Cemetery. All the information is available to view which gives an entire overview on the situation at the cemetery.
Thanks go to the now formed group 'Friends of Great Bowden Cemetery' for their care and attention in tackling this situation and passing information onto all relevant and interest parties.
Pictures
'Click to enlarge the pictures'
Pictures shown were taken to purely provide evidence of flooding and poor maintenance of the cemetery to the relevant authorities.
Jan 09 - Flooded Field Pictures
Yew Tree
Yew Tree Pictures showing epicormic growth and dead Irish Yews - see corresponding report above.
The first 4 pictures above show the dead yew trees followed by 3 pictures showing after their removal. June 2008.
900 Years of Trees Lost * linked to article above (July 2008)
Ivy Clearing Project
David French & John Coombs working hard.
before & after
before & after
height of ivy growth above wall
large vines on top of wall
Chater-Simpson Memorial and Ivy Growth behind it (glove to show scale)
Ivy cut down awaiting removal in heaps from middle section & Ivy ready for bonfire in waste ground
Floodwater Through The Wall From The Heygate Field - March 16th 2008
measurement from datum (shown in picture above right red string in wall)
Flood water coming through the wall. Water level in field was 10 inches higher than in the cemetery. 11am March 16th 2008
Damaged Headstones & Maintenance
Pictures below show damaged headstones and general maintenance issues. Pictures taken Autumn 2007.
Flooding in Cemetery
Pictures below show flooding at the cemetery. Pictures taken January 2008.
Flooding in Greville-Heygate Field
Pictures below show flood water at cemetery wall in Greville-Heygate field. Pictures taken January 2008.
Gunnsbrook Outbreak
Pictures taken January 2008.
click to view Gunnsbrook Gusher Map
All information and pictures compiled and provided by Alf Herbert.
Valiant Maintenance Work
Valiant work is being carried out in very muddy conditions. There is a constant flow from the water course, creating a near paddy field condition. Pictures taken 25th January 2008.
More work being carried out - July 2008
Wildflower Glade
Update on Wildflower Glade at the Cemetery - 8th June 2008 - Alf Herbert
Buttercup, Daisy, The Wildflower Glade
Corn Cockle
Red Campion, Red Campion close up, Hedge Bedstraw
Bluebells
Oxeye Daisy
Musk Mallow
Hedge Bedstraw "gallium album" - White flowers plant, quite tall at 3ft, grouped flowers, each floret bears four only petals.
Corn Cockle "agrostemma githago" - Now a rare British flower once common in cornfields, displays five petals on each flower head, colour a remarkable light purple, the stems and leaves are a light green to grey, grows to 24" high making a terrific display.
Red Campion "silene diocia" - Is now in profusion in the glade, florets very pink five petals but each petal is deeply cleft initially conveys the impression of bearing ten petals.
Musk Mallow in flower, “malva moschata” the leaves are divided similar to the Buttercup and a bit like the Meadow Cranesbill, the petals are marked with radiating lines akin to the cranesbill. Petals are pale pink, grows up to 2ft.high.
Just near the watercourse in the middle of the view to the fields, a group of Teasels tower above the low hedge John and I laid in March this year. The vivid purple flower heads should display during July.
One of the four Cuckoo Pints has produced its cluster of green berries, which will ripen to red in Autumn. Oxeye Daisy the flower heads have now opened (see picture above).
____________________________________________
The first signs of emerging plants at the new Wildflower Glade area. Pictures taken 25th January 2008.
Pictures below refer to the New Wildflower Glade showing before and after preparation of the site.
Documents available to download on this site are saved in PDF format. You will need Adobe Reader to view them. Click the link below to download the software.
