Heene Cemetery

By Huw Morgan

Communities and Wildlife Officer

Heene Cemetery in west Worthing is an extraordinary haven for wildlife, whose natural riches are being recorded and photographed in an unusual citizen science project. It originally functioned as a cemetery between 1873 and 1977. First created on “unimproved old meadowland”, it has probably never been ploughed or sprayed with chemicals. This small, town-centre plot is tended by volunteers and open to visitors keen to see this hidden oasis.

The Friends of Heene Cemetery come together to research and publish biographies of some of the 1,959 people buried there, to do maintenance work and to identify, log and photograph the species that are seen throughout the year. These activities are detailed on their website, which is regularly updated.

The Cemetery is some way from being traditional. It often has an unkempt appearance – because nature often prefers it that way. Grasses are cut mid-summer and then again at the end of the growing season. Invasive species are selectively reined in to prevent them dominating, and several areas are left to flourish relatively untended. These steps help promote species diversity – reflected in the 450+ species recorded here with the help of a dozen or so county recorder specialists. With just short of 200 flowering plants and 100 insects and invertebrates, the count, which started only three years ago, is sure to uncover more surprising details.

Check out their website for more on these species. Even better, when the gates are open on Tuesdays and Saturdays (2-4pm, weather permitting), go along and visit this magical place and talk to the volunteers about how they try to attain this compromise between respect for those buried there and protection and encouragement of the environmental riches that surround them. They would welcome you becoming a Friend, joining them in this very special venture.