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Ilford PDSA Animal Cemetery restoration project
 Ilford PDSA Animal Cemetery is the final resting place of more than 3,000 animals, including 12 animal heroes from World War II that were awarded the PDSA Dickin Medal, the animals' equivalent of the Victoria Cross.
The Cemetery dates from the 1920s and is tucked away in a quiet spot behind Ilford PDSA PetAid branch.
A grant from the People’s Millions project, administered by The Big Lottery Fund, enabled PDSA to renovate the Cemetery and improve access to the site in 2007. Many of the animals’ graves were restored and new gravestones were erected for the hero animals where needed.
 The project included the creation of a new visitors’ centre and a Garden of Remembrance, designed by Bob Flowerdew of BBC Radio 4’s Gardener’s Question Time
The Garden offers a place of quiet contemplation for animal lovers. It was designed to reflect the colours of the PDSA Dickin Medal ribbbon - blue, green and brown to symbolise the air, sea and land Forces - and includes a memorial stone bearing the inscription "Love’s final gift – Remembrance" as well as a specially-commissioned bench donated by the Amalgamation of Racing Pigeons.
The Cemetery and Garden are tended by a dedicated team of volunteers. Anyone who would like to offer their help to the charity should contact PDSA’s National Volunteering Centre on freephone 0800 854194.
Why not read the amazing stories of just four of the PDSA Dickin Medal holders buried at the Cemetery?
The Ilford PDSA Animal Cemetery can be found at Woodford Bridge Road, Redbridge, Ilford, Essex, IG4 5PS. |
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