Planting at the War Memorial on Angel Hill

The Angel Hill Memorial Garden in Bury St Edmunds has undergone a thoughtful replanting, a result of a collaborative effort between the Bury St Edmunds Abbey Rotary Club and West Suffolk Council staff. This project introduces a sustainable planting scheme designed to create a serene space for reflection, while honouring the original purpose of the garden as a place of remembrance.

The eye-catching memorial itself was designed by architect Sidney Naish and constructed by builders Messrs Linzell and Edmundson. It was unveiled on Thursday, 13 October 1921, by General Lord Horne GCB KCMG ADC and dedicated by the Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich. The newly introduced planting design ensures the garden continues to reflect its original purpose, while enhancing its peaceful atmosphere with climate-conscious, resilient plant species.

The project has been developed in close collaboration with Nick Hardy, President of the Bury Abbey Rotary Club of Bury St Edmunds and Abbey Gardens Manager Simon Hobson. The Rotary club provided the funds to buy the 180 plants which include:

Cornus Contraversa Variegata (Wedding Cake Trees), Cornus alternifolia ‘Argentea,’ Choysia x dewitteana ‘White Dazzler,’  Ohiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens,’ and Carex arctic white. These plant species were carefully selected to provide year-round interest, texture, and colour, while also contributing to the sustainability of the space.

“This project is about preserving history while embracing sustainability,” said Simon Hobson. “By carefully selecting plants that will thrive in the long term, we can preserve the spirit of the original garden, while ensuring it remains a place of reflection for generations to come.”

Clare Devlin, a member of the Bury St Edmunds Abbey Rotary Club team added, “It was great to see our team from Bury St Edmunds Abbey Rotary Club work together with the team from the Abbey Gardens to transform this space. Simon explained the reasons why they had chosen these plants. We look forward to watching the memorial garden establish and mature over the coming years.”

The renewed Angel Hill Memorial Garden will stand as a living testament to both remembrance and environmental responsibility, uniting the past and future in a harmonious tribute. The new planting scheme incorporates species that will not only thrive but also honour the memorial's long-standing commitment to remembrance and respect.