FURTHER improvements are on the horizon for a Beccles cemetery which has not been used for burials for 150 years.

Residents say Kilbrack cemetery is important to the people of Beccles and to wildlife.

Last year the Journal reported how improvements had been made at the cemetery after nearly �7,000 was made available, with some funds used to install oak posts on the boundaries of the site and a new bench added.

Now Pride in Beccles, a working party of Beccles Town Council which is leading the improvements, want to add more colour to the cemetery by planting some spring bulbs and a limited amount of shrubs.

The bulbs could include crocus, snowdrops and aconites.

The shrubs could include rosa rugosa, holly, hawthorn, and dogwood which will also create suitable nesting sites. Pride in Beccles is also proposing putting some bird boxes in the trees and an information board detailing the history of the site.

John Sigsworth, of Pride in Beccles, said: “As this is an important place we intend to put an information board near to the Peddars Lane end of Kilbrack.

“This will describe the history of the site and also the natural life which can be found in Kilbrack.

“One further possibility is to establish a summer wild flower bed. In order to test this idea it may be helpful to leave an area uncut during the summer.

“This will give us a clearer idea of the value of such a wild flower bed before we consider any planting.”

Permission for any development at the site must be obtained from the Church of England as the cemetery is consecrated land.

Mr Sigsworth added: “These suggestions have been discussed with the Suffolk Wildlife Trust and presented to the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich.

“Obviously it will be a little while before any of these ideas are acted upon but we would welcome now the thoughts and comments of anyone who is interested in the future of Kilbrack.”

Thoughts and comments about the plans should be sent to Pride in Beccles at the Town Hall, The Walk, Beccles, Suffolk, NR34 9AJ.