Trees at Cathays Cemetery

Cathays Cemetery has a substantial tree collection, including some mature specimens probably planted in the 19th century. The Cemetery opened in 1859 and planting began in the early 1860s with purchases of Hawthorns to form boundaries, followed by Firs, Spruces, Yews and Red cedars. Subsequently native deciduous trees were added including Oaks, Beeches and Sycamores.[1]

The section of the cemetery bordering Fairoak Road between the main (chapels) entrance and Cathays Library has much new planting from the 1990s.

In the present day cemetery there are Pines, Spruces, Yews, Evergreen oaks, Birches, Beeches, Ashes, Cypresses and Hollies, as well as Hawthorns, Magnolias, and ornamental Cherries and Crab apples. Significant individual trees include the Cedar of Lebanon behind the chapels and the Monkey puzzle at the Fairoak Road entrance.

Name Common Name Origin Status Location   OS Grid Tag Place Event
Abies procera† Noble fir West USA   North east of chapels near railway line ST 18365 78840   Cathays Cemetery  
Catalpa fargesii Farges' catalpa China Rare Beside Fairoak Road railings ST 18076 78343   Cathays Cemetery  
Cedrus libani Cedar of Lebanon Asia Minor and Syria   Immediately behind the chapels ST 18243 78634   Cathays Cemetery  
Crataegus spp #1 Thorn     Approx. 100M NE of the chapels ST 18318 78677   Cathays Cemetery  
Crataegus spp #2 Thorn     60M north east of chapels ST 18278 78697   Cathays Cemetery  
Crataegus spp #3 Thorn     North east of chapels near railway line ST 18359 78812   Cathays Cemetery  
Cryptomeria japonica Japanese red cedar Japan   North east of chapels near railway line ST 18378 78791   Cathays Cemetery  
Fagus sylvatica 'Asplenifolia' Fern-leaved beech Garden origin   145M west of the chapels ST 18105 78586   Cathays Cemetery  
Fagus sylvatica 'Rotundifolia' Small-leaved beech Garden origin Rare To the west of the chapels ST 18136 78609   Cathays Cemetery  
Liriodendron tulipifera Tulip tree East North America   100M north east of chapels ST 18294 78729   Cathays Cemetery  
Magnolia × soulangeana Saucer magnolia Garden origin   100M north east of chapels ST 18288 78734   Cathays Cemetery  
Picea pungens 'Glauca'† #1 Blue Colorado spruce West USA   North east of chapels near railway line ST 18362 78823   Cathays Cemetery  
Picea pungens 'Glauca'† #2 Blue Colorado spruce West USA   North east of chapels near railway line ST 18360 78863   Cathays Cemetery  
Picea pungens 'Koster'† Colorado spruce 'Koster' Garden origin   North east of chapels near railway line ST 18359 78828   Cathays Cemetery  
Tilia 'Harold Hillier' Harold Hillier hybrid lime Garden origin   Fairoak Road entrance, near Nonconformist chapel ST 18243 78595   Cathays Cemetery  

The history of Cathays Cemetery

Sources of information

  1. Cathays Cemetery Cardiff on its 150th aniversary, published by Friends of Cathays Cemetery [2009] ISBN 978 0 9562786 09