Throughout the year, when the weather is appropriate, gardening work parties strive to maintain and improve the North churchyard by grass, shrub and tree cutting, planting spring bulbs, replacing fencing, and the maintenance and erection of fallen graves where necessary.  

 

 

In early April 2025, The Friends met up to start the spring cleaning of the graveyard and to commence gardening and grass cutting etc after what has been a long winter.  

Our chairperson Lynne made a sterling effort cleaning the Robinson/Whitley plaque with tomato sauce (as suggested by a recent visitor). Designed by Louis le Prince, originally from France, married Leeds lady Sarah Whitley and designed the grave at her request for her parents after their death. 

On 19th April, The Friends of Roundhay St John's attended the Oakwood Farmers' Market. 

On 17th May we held an open day from 10am which included tours of the graveyard. 

 

In 2024, one of our wonderful volunteers Wendy worked tirelessly and with great enthusiasm during the summer to reveal a significant number of the graves in all their Victorian glory. https://player.vimeo.com/video/1007270731 taken in September, shows the magical southern graveyard at St John's, which had become somewhat overgrown over recent years.  

We think you’ll agree her hard work has certainly paid off. 

On 7th September, we again participated in the Leeds Heritage Trail, including tours of the churchyard and presentations about some of the characters buried here. In total, we welcomed around 140 visitors and managed to dodge most of the rain this time. 

On 6th July, in very mixed weather including an almighty downpour of rain, a group of volunteers took part in our summer Open Day. After "no mow May" it was a mammoth task to mow the grass. I'm sure you'll agree the effort was well worthwhile. As well as mowing the vast area of overgrown grass, volunteers also cleaned numerous graves along the park boundary wall and the Cercis tree donated in memory of the Hargraves was planted. So much was accomplished and our grateful thanks go to all involved. The heavens opened just as The Lidgett Players were due to perform. After almost an hour's pause, they talked about the work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission plus, at each of their graves, George de Relyskow, James Kitson, Harold Nicholson, Thomas and Sarah Whitley and Winifred and Ewald Feldhaus, for whom their youngest daughter Deborah was our guest of honour.  

 

In 2023, everyone worked extremely hard on 8th June to prepare for summer.  

On the 1st July, visitors who attended our first Open Day were particularly industrious, especially in clearing some of the older, very-overgrown graves.  

on 16th September, as part of the Leeds Civic Trust 2023 Heritage Trail, The Friends of Roundhay St John's church held an event in the North churchyard.  

30+ visitors were shown around the churchyard and its vicinity, discussed some of the interesting graves and talked about the general history of St John's. We are extremely grateful to those visitors who worked hard in the churchyard alongside our regular Friends.  

On 4th November, at our last gardening work party for the year, we held a bulb planting session and in early December two new trees were planted.  

On 16th December, we were very pleased to meet with new enquirers at the Oakwood Farmers' Market and we plan to attend future such events in 2024.