This Halloween, Edinburgh World Heritage (EWH) is excited to announce that it has successfully secured funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for Legacies in Stone: Connecting Communities with Historic Graveyards.
Running from January 2026 to January 2029, this EWH-managed project will support volunteers to investigate and celebrate their unique graveyard heritage. There will be a local focus on two Edinburgh-based graveyard ‘Friends of’ groups – the active Friends of Greyfriars Kirkyard, and a ressurected Friends of Calton Burial grounds. Beyond Edinburgh, it will connect community groups caring for historic graveyards across Scotland, creating a national network of ‘Friends of’ groups, fostering collaboration, shared learning and long-term support for burial sites.
Legacies in Stone will create many opportunities for people to get involved in local historic graveyards. Volunteers will be able to join to:
- Investigate whether a 17th-century tomb in Greyfriars Kirkyard contains a burial vault and search for traces of its original, historic paintwork.
- Learn more about the history of Scottish burial grounds and the vital work of volunteers in caring for these sites at two free online conferences.
- Re-establish the Friends of the Calton Burial Grounds. New volunteers will explore how planting and community stewardship can help the site tackle the effects of the climate emergency
The National ‘Friends of’ group elements of the project proposal were led by The Kirkmichael Trust, with input from: Friends of Glasgow Necropolis; Glasgow Sculpture; Friends of Temple Old Kirk; Stonehouse Heritage Society; Friends of Heartwood Pauper Cemetery; Friends of Kilbride; Friends of Balquhidder Churchyard; Balquhidder Graveyard Claymore Project; Logie Old Graveyard Group; Friends of Greyfriars Kirkyard; Friends of the Grange Cemetery, Edinburgh; Kilmaronock Old Kirk Trust; Friends of Hartwood Paupers Cemetery; Society of Friends of Dunblane Cathedral; Friends of Cathcart Cemetery; ROOKS (Rescuers of Old Kilmadock); Dunfermline Abbey Churchyards; Strathglass Heritage Association; and Aird Community Trust.
Using money raised by National Lottery players, The National Lottery Heritage Fund supports projects that connect people and communities with the UK’s heritage. Legacies in Stone will be made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players across the UK.
Dr Susan Buckham, Graveyards Project Manager at Edinburgh World Heritage, said: “Historic graveyards thrive when communities care for them. They are vital spaces for wellbeing and reflection on the human experience. EWH is thrilled that a grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund will allow us to partner with local groups, strengthening community stewardship and enjoyment of our distinctive funerary heritage across Edinburgh and Scotland.”
Terry Levinthal, Director of Edinburgh World Heritage added: “I am delighted that The National Lottery Heritage Fund has acknowledged the importance of community-based heritage engagement through its funding of Legacies in Stone. Our Graveyards Project Manager Susan’s project will positively engage Edinburgh locals and volunteers across Scotland, as well as support the preservation of our historic graveyards, vital assets of the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh World Heritage Site.”
Mark Hatton, Chair of Friends of Greyfriars Kirkyard said: “Since the Friends were established in 2020, we have enjoyed a positive and productive relationship with EWH, which has grown through the co-design of the Legacies in Stone project. The key outcomes have been designed to match our current priorities and interests in the Kirkyard, as well as future organisational needs.”
Notes to editors
About Edinburgh World Heritage
EWH is the independent charitable organisation responsible for protecting and promoting the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh World Heritage Site. Working in partnership with the City of Edinburgh Council and Historic Environment Scotland, EWH looks after the city’s historic environment through conservation, engagement and advocacy, ensuring Edinburgh’s unique character remains something for all to enjoy.
Edinburgh World Heritage is registered in Scotland No. SC195077 Scottish Charity No. SC037183
Acheson House, 5 Bakehouse Close, 146 Canongate, Edinburgh, EH8 8DD
ewh.org.uk/about-us
Images are available on our Dropbox.
Contact jen.macneill@ewht.org.uk for further information
About The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Our vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future. That’s why as the largest funder for the UK’s heritage we are dedicated to supporting projects that connect people and communities to heritage, as set out in our strategic plan, Heritage 2033.Heritage 2033. Heritage can be anything from the past that people value and want to pass on to future generations. We believe in the power of heritage to ignite the imagination, offer joy and inspiration, and to build pride in place and connection to the past.
Over the next 10 years, we aim to invest £3.6billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to make a decisive difference for people, places and communities.
Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter/X, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLottery #HeritageFund.”Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter/X, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLottery #HeritageFund.”