The number of visitors at cemeteries maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission is increasing. In order to meet its standards of excellence and improve the visitors’ experience, the CWGC will undertake work at Essex Farm Cemetery. The aim of this major project, involving a total of € 100.000 comes under two objectives which are to go back to the original plans as much as possible and using modern methods to enhance the visitors’ experience.



Therefore, we will adapt our site to the visitors’ needs by creating a new gravel path at the rear of the cemetery that will follow the desire lines of visitors. Replacing the existing artificial grass and extending this artificial grass area. Stone paving will be laid out in the area in front of the seat. In order to encourage use of the new paths, entrances and exits throughout the cemetery stepping stones will be placed through the borders. The service gate will be repaired and opened for public. The historical notice will be moved to the front of the cemetery. All these actions will reduce wear at pinch points and will a give stimulus to discover the cemetery in a different way. Finally the lime trees will be pollarded to a smaller shape and a taxus hedge will planted to enclose the cemetery, according to the original plan.



The works will be scheduled as follows:

Phase 1: October 2015 to November 2015

• Replace and extend artificial turf and metal edging
• Install stepping stones
• Install Dolomite path to rear
• Open and repair service gate
• Move Historical Notice
• New planting to Stone of Remembrance, borders and new back border.

Phase 2: January 2016 to March 2016

• Pollarding trees

Phase 3: February 2016 to April 2016

• Paving to seat
• Planting of Taxus hedge

During the works access may be restricted. We will advertise these restrictions on our website and where visitors need to visit a grave our teams will allow access.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (www.cwgc.org)

The CWGC is responsible for the commemoration of almost 1.7 million members of the Commonwealth forces who gave their lives in the two world wars. The graves and memorials of these men and women, who came from all parts of the Commonwealth are found around the globe in 153 countries. The CWGC operates in over 23,000 locations across all continents except for Antarctica. The CWGC has two area offices in Western Europe, one in Ieper (Belgium) and one in Beaurains (France). Apart from Belgium and France the Western Europe Area is also responsible for Germany, The Netherlands, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, Poland, and Switzerland.