Ferring Conservation Group’s April meeting had a very interesting, and well-presented talk on the History and Wildlife of Broadwater Cemetery – one of Worthing’s oldest burial grounds, now a nature reserve but still visited by family members of those who were buried there in its latter years. ‘Friends of Broadwater Cemetery’ document its history (which goes back to 1861) and, in cooperation with Worthing Borough Council, maintain its extensive grounds in a way which preserves and encourages the wide range of wildflowers, birds and other animals, and butterflies.
Debra Hillman, the Chairman of the ‘Friends’ talked about the early days of the cemetery and some of the well-known local people buried there, including the naturalists W H Hudson and Richard Jefferies. Less well known were the 115 victims of the Worthing typhoid epidemic of 1893, to whom there is a common memorial. But the old Chapel, with its splendid interior, is a listed building.
Paul Robards leads the work on keeping the cemetery’s extensive grounds tidy and removing the ivy which quickly grows over the headstones, hiding the inscriptions and the stories they tell. He is also a lifelong naturalist and does everything he can to preserve and encourage the abundant wildlife – which includes slow worms, many songbirds, and a wide variety of butterflies. He showed some excellent photographs to illustrate his talk, and Conservation Group members were encouraged to join one of the Cemetery Tours, on the first Saturday of every month in Spring, Summer and Autumn,
The Group held its AGM later in the meeting. Pete Coe was elected Chairman, David Bettiss as Secretary and Ed Miller has taken over as Membership Secretary.