Introduction and Project Description (Aims and Objectives)

Aim

The aim of the project is to create a Garden of remembrance in Woodville at Woodville Methodist Cemetery.

Objectives

To create an accessible Garden area.
To re-site the Woodville war memorial.
To explore, document and celebrate the heritage of the Woodville area in South Derbyshire.
To engage the local community in the creation and use of the site.

Project Description

The site for the project, Woodville Methodist Cemetery, is centrally located within Woodville village and is bounded by a popular recreation ground, a primary school, the Methodist church and a housing development incorporating an elderly persons complex. In recent years the cemetery has been increasingly difficult to maintain and care for appropriately due to the fact that burials are no longer undertaken in the cemetery and have not been for a considerable length of time. As a consequence the site has fallen into general neglect

Several years ago a number of meetings took place between the Parish council, Church Officials and the District Council to try and resolve the problem, and produce a long-term solution. The idea that materialised was the creation of a Memorial Garden. However despite good will the project never materialised primarily due to a lack of funding opportunities. More recently though the project has been revitalised and restarted with the Parish Council extending the original idea to include the exploration, documentation and celebration of the heritage of the Woodville area in South Derbyshire.

The Garden project will include a new war memorial; environmental improvements linked to the creation of an accessible garden and a heritage area that reflects the rich heritage of Woodville This latter will include a Heritage Mosaic done by local school children, a re-created Rope Walk, a re-sited Victorian Post Box and up to 10 Interpretations Boards