Local Wildlife Site

Accessible Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation

Royal Hospital Old Burial Grounds
Borough: Kensington and Chelsea
Grade: Borough Grade II
Access: Free public access (all/most of site)
Area: 0.64 ha

Description

Although no longer used for burials, this site is still managed as open space for visitors. As with Ranelagh Gardens, it is within the grounds of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea – home of the iconic Chelsea army pensioners. The old burial grounds are readily accessed by the public via the gate from Royal Hospital Road, (including when the Chelsea Flower Show is taking place).

Wildlife

The mown lawns support a mixture of wildflowers typical of acid and neutral grassland, including abundant cat's-ear, frequent autumn hawkbit and a patch of mouse-ear hawkweed. The uncommon grey sedge is also present. The tombstones have three notable species of fern; hart's-tongue, black spleenwort and maidenhair spleenwort.There are several mature trees and a number of recent plantings.

Facilities

sculptures/ monuments.Further info:-
Headstones at the Royal Hospital Veterans Cemetery © London Wildlife Trust

Headstones at the Royal Hospital Veterans Cemetery © London Wildlife Trust

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More information on GiGL’s SINC dataset can be found here.

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