National Federation of Cemetery Friends

The National Federation of Cemetery Friends represents groups of volunteers interested in conserving cemeteries large and small. The Cemetery Friends give their time clearing and maintaining areas, often working with local ecology groups to maintain a balance between wildlife and heritage. Friends may also provide guided walks, open days and special events and work on projects with English Heritage and other organisations such as later life choices. Some groups have restored memorials and chapels.

Our associate members include trusts, councils, and organisations who manage cemeteries and burials and individual members who are not part of a Friends group but share in our values.

The Federation firmly supports safety in cemeteries both for the volunteers working within and members of the public visiting. NFCF has played a major role in persuading central government and local authorities that a balanced and non-confrontational approach should be taken in assessing the safety of headstones and kerbs. The wholesale destruction of graves and memorials on the vague umbrella of health and safety is unnecessary in many cases and we are grateful that firmer guidelines have been issued to local authorities stating that pressure testers are not the first route in assessing safety. In a thirty year period there have been 6 fatalities (in some of those cases of the vandals who were attempting to move heavy stonework) but in general cemeteries are safe havens enjoyed by the visiting public.