Nature Conservation and Arts at the site

Tractor grass cutting

Primulas and primroses

Brimstone butterfly

The grounds are maintained by volunteers as a nature reserve by The Friends of Mendip Hospital Cemetery. Birds and wildlife are found in abundance. The grass is cut each year in early autumn to encourage seeds to set and wild flowers to flourish. There are many spring flowers; cowslips, primroses and lady's smock among others. In the summer masses of different coloured valerian and foxgloves make a lovely show. Plenty of different grasses and shrubs encourage insects and butterflies which in turn attract the birds.

Fallen trees transformed by chainsaw artist

Peter Bolton working on a sculpture

A local sculptor has been using a chainsaw to convert fallen trees into art figures in the grounds of the Mendip Hospital Cemetery.

Several trees were blown down during a storm in 2008 and Peter Bolton has transformed some of their remains into sacred figures including a dancer and an angel. During the 85 years the Cemetery was in use, 2,900 burials took place, the last ones being in 1963.

Flora

Grassland habitat

In the summer masses of different coloured valerian and foxgloves make a lovely show.

Marbled White butterfly

Plenty of different grasses and shrubs encourage insects and butterflies which in turn attract the birds.

The Pond

Reed bed and pond habitat

With an award from Wessex Water a pond has been created and is attracting frogs, newts and an occasional heron.

Common Newt

The water lilies are flowering and there is a seat nearby to sit and enjoy the peace of this green space among the houses.