Hailsham Town Council is highlighting the availability of its dedicated pet ashes burial ground at Hailsham Cemetery in Ersham Road, providing families with a peaceful and dignified place to remember much-loved pets close to home.
The facility, which is available to residents of Hailsham as well as those living in neighbouring towns and villages, was established in response to a recognised lack of dedicated pet burial provision within the local area.
The dedicated area is situated within Hailsham Cemetery, close to the main entrance, on land that had previously been unused. It has been carefully developed into a quiet and appropriately maintained setting specifically for the burial of ashes belonging to small domestic pets, including cats and dogs.
The facility provides families with an opportunity to establish a permanent place of remembrance for a pet that has been an important part of their lives.
There are around 120 burial plots available within the dedicated pet ashes burial ground and each plot measures approximately 12 inches by 12 inches and is prepared by the Town Council’s cemetery team. The current cost is £99 per plot, which includes:
Where families wish to bury the ashes of an additional pet within an existing plot, this can be arranged for a further fee of £99.
Families may also choose to install a small memorial marker or plaque commemorating their pet. These can include details such as the pet’s name and date of passing and may be installed at the owner’s expense, subject to the Council’s size and design requirements.
Cllr Dave Chapman, Chair of the Assets Management Committee said: “For many people, the loss of a pet can be an extremely difficult experience because animals become such an important part of family life. Having somewhere peaceful and permanent to remember them can provide comfort and give families a place to return to in the years ahead.”
“The pet cemetery at Hailsham Cemetery was created to provide exactly that kind of space. It gives families the opportunity to choose a dedicated resting place for their pet in a quiet and respectful setting, without having to travel a considerable distance to find a suitable facility.”
“We also wanted the service to be available to people living beyond Hailsham itself. The research carried out before the project highlighted the limited availability of pet burial facilities in the surrounding area, so we felt there was an opportunity to provide a service that could benefit families across neighbouring communities as well.”
Tony Lee, Operations and Facilities Manager at Hailsham Town Council, added: “Creating the dedicated pet cemetery has enabled us to make constructive use of an area of land within the cemetery while providing a purpose-built facility that meets a genuine local need.”
“Our cemetery team has prepared the plots and surrounding area with the same emphasis on care, maintenance and presentation that applies across the Council’s cemetery facilities. The intention has been to create somewhere that is simple, peaceful and well maintained, giving families an appropriate setting in which to remember their pets.”
“With capacity for around 120 plots, the facility also gives us the opportunity to provide this service to residents of Hailsham and the surrounding area over the longer term.”
The dedicated area is maintained by the Town Council as part of its wider responsibility for Hailsham Cemetery, helping to ensure that it remains a clean, peaceful and respectful environment for families to visit.
For further information about the pet cemetery, including details of the application process and memorial requirements, please visit the Town Council’s dedicated pet cemetery web page or contact Hailsham Town Council on 01323 841702.
Applications for a pet ashes burial plot can be made by downloading the relevant application form. Hard copies of the application form are also available from the Town Council Offices in Market Street.
Terry Hall, COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER
Hailsham Town Council, Market Street, Hailsham, East Sussex, BN27 2AE
Telephone: 01323 841702 | Email: terry.hall@hailsham-tc.gov.uk