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Carpet of bluebells transform Birmingham's oldest cemetery

John BrayJewellery Quarter, Birmingham
News imageBBC A vast array of bluebells in a cemetery with headstones dotted aroundBBC
Key Hill Cemetery was Birmingham's first cemetery not part of a churchyard and opened in 1836

A spectacular carpet of bluebells is covering one of the most historic sites in Birmingham.

The flowers are in full bloom at Key Hill Cemetery in the city's Jewellery Quarter.

And they shine a colourful spotlight on an area of Birmingham steeped in civic history.

The bluebells have drawn new visitors to the cemetery, with Birmingham photography group IgersBirminghamUK organising a guided photo walk with Dr Rachel Askew, from conservation charity Caring For God's Acre.

Dr Askew said the cemetery was sometimes described as the Westminster Abbey of the Midlands "because of the number of famous people buried here".

They include include former mayor Joseph Chamberlain and Alfred Bird, the inventor of baking powder and egg-free custard.

News imageA photographer with a wide-brimmed brown leather hat crouching down to take photographs of bluebells in a cemetery. Behind him is a brick wall
As Birmingham's population grew, churchyards were running out of room, and the cemetery also helped to overcome the issue of burials for people who were non-Anglican
News imageTwo bluebells next to a memorial stone for a woman called Emily who died in 1933 aged 44
There are 90,000 bodies buried in Key Hill Cemetery, although only about 10% have memorials
News imageBluebells in a cemetery with headstones dotted around
The Friends of Key Hill Cemetery was set up in 2004 by a group of people concerned by the deterioration of the site. In 2009, nearby Warstone Lane Cemetery was adopted
News imageA single bluebell next to a memorial slab in a cemetery
Stories to Remember: Death and Memory in the Jewellery Quarter is a writing project taking place in May, organised by Caring For God's Acre. Creative writers are being invited to pen stories of people in the cemetery
News imageA vast array of bluebells in a cemetery with a headstone and brick wall
Caring for God's Acre was established in 2000 as a national charity, promoting the conservation of burial sites
News imageA vast array of bluebells in a cemetery with headstones dotted around and a brick wall
The landscapes of both Key Hill and Warstones cemeteries are listed on Historic England's Register of Parks and Gardens, to recognise their importance
News imageA vast array of bluebells in a cemetery with headstones dotted around and a blue Midlands Metro tram in the distance
The beautiful array of bluebells can be seen from the Midlands Metro tram stop at Jewellery Quarter
News imageA vast array of bluebells in a cemetery with headstones dotted around
Key Hill and neighbouring Warstones cemeteries include eight former mayors of Birmingham and veterans from the world wars
News imageA memorial stone to Alfred Bird who died in December 1878
People buried in cemetery include former mayor Joseph Chamberlain and Alfred Bird, the inventor of baking powder and egg-free custard
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