If you’re without a patch of your own but twitching to turn your fingers green or if gardening in your backyard has lost its shine, an exciting new project to re-wild a historic Beaches landmark might be for you.

Manly Cemetery on Griffiths Street is one of Sydney’s oldest cemeteries and has been a special and sacred place since its’ first burial in 1863. New burial sites are no longer available, but the cemetery - nestled amongst homes, a primary school and a playground - remains a much-loved hub and thoroughfare for locals.

This year it will also undergo a new look as part of the Northern Beaches Wildflower Project, an initiative to establish meadows of native wildflowers and native grasses on Council-owned land.  And all that’s needed to make it happen is a keen group of volunteers to help with planting.

Plans for the cemetery are to plant colourful, low growing flowers within the graves and monuments, creating a patchwork of flower beds across the site. Pathways and access points will remain unaffected.

Rewilding is a modern approach to conservation, letting nature take care of itself to attract pollinators and insects, providing habitats for fauna and increasing biodiversity.  It supports local ecosystems through filtration, carbon capture and the flow of genetic material as well as creating a self-sustaining native seed bank of local species.

A series of landscaped mini-gardens will enhance this historic cemetery, creating a peaceful natural oasis that attracts butterflies, bees, and birds, while preserving the existing dog friendly, off-leash grass areas for community use.

To register your interest or to volunteer at Manly Cemetery visit our website. 

If you know of a public space that could benefit from rewilding - such as the edge of a reserve, a road verge, or an underutilised green area – get in touch. Gather a group of friends to help, and you could be leading your own local wildflower project as part of the Northern Beaches Wildflower Project.

There is also a gardening group at Mona Vale Cemetery.  Volunteers at both sites meet regularly to remove weeds, maintain gravesites, and support community initiatives, such as the “Honour our Fallen” flag program for Anzac Day.