Latest News & Achievements
Keep Scotland Beautiful 2026
π Level 5 Outstanding — AGAIN!
We’re absolutely delighted to announce that Friends of Hartwood Paupers Cemetery has once again achieved a Level 5 – Outstanding Award from Keep Scotland Beautiful!
π Four years. Five Level 5 awards.
The 2026 assessment recognised our work in community, heritage, biodiversity, gardening and environmental action, celebrating Hartwood as a welcoming space where people, history and nature come together.
We are incredibly proud and hugely grateful to everyone who has supported, volunteered and helped make Hartwood what it is.
This award belongs to all of you. ππΏπ
π Read the full assessment below.
Our Achievements
We still don't quite know how our wee project, once rooted in silence and stigma, has gone on to receive worldwide recognition but what we do know is this:
Hartwood Paupers Cemetery has been brought back to life through love, dedication, and community spirit.
Reuniting Families and Telling Stories
We have reunited into the hundreds of families with their once long-lost relatives, learned about the lives of many buried within the cemetery through their descendants, and have even put faces to what were once just numbers.
Bees, Benevolence, and "Pure Dead Brilliant" Honey
Thanks to funding from the Environmental Key Fund from the Windfarm, we were able to take on parental care of our bees! With support and guidance, we established our own hives – and to say they’ve settled in is an understatement.
We're now hoping to produce Pure Dead Brilliant Honey,
Keep an eye out – the honey is as local as it gets!
Stories that Touched the Nation
We met Jane Mathers of Magical Nature Stories, thanks to Margaret from Spotlight Shotts on a sunny morning meeting and never thought that the story of the cemetery would came something magical – deeply moving storytelling that captured the heart of Hartwood’s history. T
hese stories were later shared at the Edinburgh International Storytelling Festival.π Listen here
A National Lottery Good Cause – and Project of the Year!
We were honoured to be named a National Lottery Good Cause Project for 2023, but nothing could have prepared us for being awarded Scottish Project of the Year the same year.
To say we were speechless would be an understatement.
The trophy now sits proudly in Lottie, our greenhouse.
π Read more here
Lanarkshire's First WooWoo Composting Toilet
No more hiding in the trees!
Thanks to funding from Scottish Power’s Renewable Environmental Key Fund, we were able to install North Lanarkshire’s first WooWoo composting toilet on 6 March 2024.
Supplied by WooWoo Waterless Toilet Systems and expertly installed by Xoli Wastewater Solutions,
it means visitors and volunteers can stay a wee bit longer in comfort and dignity.π Toilet systemπ Installer info
Keep Scotland Beautiful Outstanding Level 5 Award
On our very first attempt, we were delighted to receive the prestigious Keep Scotland Beautiful Outstanding Level 5 Award, now four years on, we have continued to maintain the level 5 award, a recognition of the quality, care, and commitment we bring to the cemetery. It’s an award that sets a high bar, and one we’re proud to uphold.
π Read more here
Commonwealth War Graves Recognition
After years of determined research and advocacy, our cemetery has finally been recognised as a Commonwealth War Graves site. Special thanks go to Rhona, whose tireless campaigning ensured our WW1 soldiers received the honour they deserve. In collaboration with Terry Denham of the In From the Cold Project, we received unforgettable news: Patrick Tierney (Lair 317) was added to the official roll of the fallen.
What started with a visit to my GGG Uncle Robbie MacDonald’s grave at Villers Station Cemetery, where he was honoured and remembered, has come full circle – now our Hartwood soldiers will receive the same recognition, dignity, and care.
π CWGC announcement
So what's next?
If anything, the past few years has shown us, is that anything is possible if we put our minds to it ... so watch this space
December 2024
We really don’t know what to say, but wow! π€©
Just when we thought this year couldn't get any better, another amazing achievement comes our way!
On our first year participating in Keep Scotland Beautiful, we’ve been awarded the highest level — Level 5 Outstanding Achievement!!
So, what does Level 5 mean?
It’s the top honour, recognising outstanding commitment to sustainability, cleanliness, and community spirit.
We’re incredibly proud to have earned this prestigious award, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the support of everyone involved. π
Who would ever have thought a once forgotten cemetery, a composting toilet and bees would be recognised across the globe π
Here’s to continuing the great work and making Scotland even more beautiful!
π πΊ π²
August 2024
Beekeeping at Friends of Hartwood Paupers Cemetery
We’re excited to share updates from our beekeeping project! After successfully removing the original beehives, we’ve begun the installation of our own hives. This marks a new chapter for us, and we’re thrilled to continue fostering a thriving pollinator haven.
Last season, we were delighted by the productivity of our bees, who gifted us with a batch of "Pure Dead Brilliant" honey—so delicious, it's become a favorite among our supporters. We’re hopeful that our new bees will be just as hardworking and productive in the seasons to come.
In keeping with our commitment to biodiversity and sustainability, we’re expanding our efforts to create a balanced environment that supports both our honeybees and native species. The introduction of our meadow project, paired with ongoing beekeeping activities, ensures that Hartwood remains a sanctuary for all pollinators.
Stay tuned for more updates, including honey availability and new developments from our hive!
September 2024
Exciting News: NL Environmental Key Fund Success!
We are thrilled to announce that our application to the North Lanarkshire Environmental Key Fund (NL EKF) has been successful! This funding will play a crucial role in helping us establish our Bee Hive Haven at Hartwood Paupers Cemetery. With this support, we are well on our way to creating a flourishing environment for our new bees and expanding our efforts to support biodiversity in the area.
The Bee Hive Haven will not only provide a home for our own hives but will also enhance our ongoing meadow project, supporting native pollinators and enriching the ecosystem here at Hartwood. This funding allows us to continue building on the progress we've made so far, ensuring the long-term sustainability of the haven.
We’d like to extend a massive thank you to NL EKF for their generous support, and we can’t wait to share more updates as the project develops. Stay tuned as we bring our vision of a thriving bee sanctuary to life!
Wild Meadow Project Funded by Lanarkshire Climate Action Hub!
We are excited to announce that we have received a grant from the Lanarkshire Climate Action Hub to support our initiative to install a Wild Meadow at Hartwood Paupers Cemetery. This funding will allow us to create a vibrant, pollinator-friendly environment that benefits both our local ecosystem and the community.
The wild meadow will be planted with a variety of native wildflowers and grasses, promoting biodiversity and providing essential habitats for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. By reducing the areas mowed and allowing nature to flourish, we aim to create a beautiful space that contributes to the overall health of our environment.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Lanarkshire Climate Action Hub for their support in making this project a reality. We’re eager to get started and look forward to sharing our progress with you!
