The council’s burial service has once again been awarded the highest national accreditation by the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management (ICCM), achieving the prestigious ‘Gold Charter'...
Watford is one of only a small number of councils across the country to hold this status, placing 31st out of 106 local authorities nationwide. The ICCM Charter recognises authorities that go above and beyond to support families during the most difficult of times, offering excellent facilities, compassionate care, and clear information for those arranging funerals.
Elected Mayor of Watford, Peter Taylor, said: “Losing a loved one is always a very difficult time, and it’s vital that we provide a supportive and respectful service to help families through it. I’m really proud that Watford has continuously achieved the gold standard every year since 2019. This reflects the hard work and dedication of our team at North Watford and Vicarage Road Cemeteries, who provide comfort and exceptional care for local families when they need it most.
Councillor Tim Williams, Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhood Services, said: “Maintaining the highest standards in our cemeteries also reflects our wider commitment to looking after Watford’s green spaces. With more Green Flag parks than anywhere else in Hertfordshire, we want to make sure our residents have places of peace, reflection, and natural beauty across the town.”
North Watford Cemetery has benefited from a series of improvements in recent years, including the restoration of its historic iron gates, extension of the lodge, and extensive landscaping, earning it national Green Flag recognition.
Further enhancements have included the creation of a Centenary Memorial Garden with above-ground memorials for ashes, an ornamental memorial tree, upgrades to the pond and cemetery entrance, resurfaced car parking, and new facilities for the cremated remains of small pets.
For more information, please visit watfordcemeteries.co.uk.
