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Friends of Astwood

Our volunteer community group, helping care for Astwood and St John's.

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Our cemeteries need you

We’re reigniting the Friends of Astwood volunteers’ group, which sadly closed in 2014. Without volunteers, our cemeteries couldn’t thrive as a wildlife and visitor haven as well as a working business.

Volunteers come from all walks of life, for all sorts of reasons. You don’t need to be an expert — just someone who cares about our sites and enjoys being part of them.

Astwood Cemetery
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Ways to get involved

There’s a role to suit most people and most amounts of time.

Outdoor volunteers

Help maintain and develop the garden areas, the natural burial area and the brook, and get involved in tree work, wildlife surveys and even basic beekeeping. Learn as you go.

Weekend wardens

Help look after the site at weekends and bank holidays, walking round to help visitors and check all is in order. Work in pairs, with training and equipment provided.

Other volunteers

Lend a hand with events and chapel support on an ad hoc basis. Each year we bring volunteers together to share stories and ideas.

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Out on the grounds

A flavour of the outdoor work, from the everyday to the specialist.
  • Maintaining and developing the garden areas, especially the old cemetery, natural burial area and brook.
  • Controlling invasive plants such as bindweed, mare’s tail, Japanese knotweed, Himalayan balsam and bramble.
  • Specialised tree pruning.
  • Wildlife surveys.
  • Basic beekeeping.
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Fancy joining us?

If you’d like to find out more about volunteering at Astwood or St John’s, please get in touch on 01905 22633. You’ll be contacted in the first instance by our Operations Supervisor.
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