Abney Park Trust

We are a small volunteer-run charity working in partnership with Hackney Council.

Our purpose is to bring Abney Park to life so together we can benefit and learn from the park’s unique wildlife, biodiversity and rich cultural heritage.

We are a purpose driven charity with three charitable objectives at the heart of what we do.

First, the conservation and restoration of Abney Park Cemetery as an area of architectural and ecological significance, and historical and religious association.

To do this, we use the Trust’s resources as best we can to:

increase understanding and consensus on the challenges facing the biodiversity in this unique landscape
identify ways in which the biodiversity of the landscape can be supported and work with Hackney Council and others to achieve this
identify graves and monuments that would benefit from celebration, conservation and restoration, working with the Council and others to do this
work with the Commonwealth Grave Commissioners, the Council and others to conserve/restore and commemorate the graves of and monuments to those who died in war
support friends, family, and others connected to people buried or believed to be buried in the cemetery, by helping them locate and, where appropriate and sustainable, care for graves or monuments.

Second, to help improve life for people living in London, especially in Hackney, by working together with the Council, community groups, and residents. We aim to support education and provide recreational and leisure activities that promote wellbeing and social welfare, welcoming everyone regardless of race, sex, gender, sexual orientation, politics or beliefs.

To do this, we use the Trust’s resources as best we can to:

run talks, activities and events on the ecological significance of the cemetery, its national importance as a unique urban nature reserve and metropolitan site of importance for nature conservation
runs talks, activities and on the architectural significance and historical and religious associations of the site, its radical and dissenting heritage and the relevance of that heritage to our communities today and in the future
use the facilities granted to us by the Council to meet the charitable aims of the Trust, including providing access to Abney for people from communities who may not see Abney as a “place for them”.

Third, to help people learn more about Abney, by creating and sharing stories, and images, writings, and artefacts about the cemetery’s history, development, connections, and environment.

To do this, we use the Trust’s resources as best we can to:

provide on our website interesting and engaging information about Abney Park, building on the work of the Trust’s many friends and collaborators now and over the decades
find innovative and creative ways to tell the stories of the cemetery: those buried and memorialised in it, its graves, monuments and buildings, and its flora and fauna
build a public record of such initiatives and activities freely accessible to anyone in the world.

Board of Trustees

Abney Park Trust's Directors have a legal responsibility to ensure good governance of the Trust.

Chair: Tom Walker
Deputy Chair: Nick Toner
Treasurer: Brooke McKinnis
Trustees:
Yasminah Beebeejaun, Imogen Clark, Cllr Susan Fajana Thomas OBE, Martina Girvan, Max Kennedy, Kevin Kibble, John McShane, Cllr Patrick Pinkerton and Ellie Roberts.