Rainsbrook Cemetery and Crematorium wins Landscape Award

Rainsbrook secured a special discretionary award for outstanding achievement at Thursday's (15 September) ceremony, which took place at Walsall's Aldridge Parish Church Hall.

The Landscape Award recognised the grounds and memorial gardens at the cemetery and crematorium, with the judges impressed by its "contemplative landscaping."

The judges also praised the recent introduction of bee hives in  Rainsbrook's grounds, and enjoyed sampling one of the first jars of Rainsbrook Valley Honey.

Rainsbrook Cemetery and Crematorium was built by Rugby Borough Council and Daventry District Council, and opened in the spring of 2014.

Located off Rugby's Ashlawn Road, the crematorium overlooks the Rainsbrook Valley, and its grounds and gardens include an Armed Forces Memorial Wall, which was dedicated by the Bishop of Warwick, the Right Reverend John Stroyan.

Other features in the crematorium's grounds include a Memorial Tree of Life, the Barbican Memorial and a landscaped pond.

Cllr Lisa Parker, Rugby Borough Council portfolio holder for environment and public realm, said: "I'm delighted Rainsbrook Cemetery and Crematorium was honoured with a special award at the Heart of England in Bloom ceremony.

"The judges were enthused during the tour of the gardens, impressed by the striking features such as the Armed Forces Memorial Wall and Memorial Tree of Life, and the natural landscaping of the grounds which complements the Rainsbrook Valley.

"The award's a fitting tribute to the hard work and dedication of the council's bereavement services and grounds maintenance teams."

Rugby Borough Council's bereavement services team, which runs Rainsbrook, was recently awarded the 'gold standard' under the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management's Charter for the Bereaved.

For more information about Rainsbrook Cemetery and Crematorium, visit www.rainsbrookcrematorium.co.uk

Photo caption: (centre) Gardener Samantha James holds Rainsbrook's Landscape Award, flanked by (left to right) Rugby and Daventry Crematorium Joint Committee members Cllr Lisa Parker, Cllr Carolyn Robbins, Cllr Catherine Lomax and Cllr Ian Robertson.