Arnos Vale is an important historic cemetery, included on the English Heritage Register of Parks and gardens at Grade II*. The site was threatened by redevelopment, and following a high-profile media campaign Bristol City Council took ownership in 2003.

The Arnos Vale Cemetery Trust was given a licence to manage the site and undertook a major restoration programme, with support from a range of funders, including a major £4,923,000 grant from us.

The four-year project had four main aims:

• to conserve the key surviving elements of the historic designed landscape by selectively clearing and re-planting informed by the original design
• to carefully conserve and re-use the main cemetery buildings
• to conserve and repair the listed and most visually significant monuments and tombs, boundary walls and gates
• to manage and conserve all areas of the cemetery as a sanctuary for wildlife

An education project was developed alongside site interpretation, talks and ticketed learning events. Income generated by events will help contribute to the ongoing site management.