The interpretation board at the entrance of the burial ground was designed in 2006 just before we first opened.  Much of the wording expressed what we hopedto create, and the map showed a vision of how we thought the nature reserve would develop.  We have now updated the board.

The New Interpretation Board

The words speak of what we are creating, and most of the pictures are those taken at the burial ground itself.  The hare and butterfly pictures are of our residents, as is the meadow of flowers at the bottom of the board.  The map of how we are developing the site is also updated, showing fewer tracks and more woodland than we originally intended.

We hope you like it!

As part of our social ethos, at Sun Rising we are always keen to support local businesses whose ethics we feel are in keeping with our own.  Naomi (whose brother is buried within the peace of the nature reserve) and her partner Kate run Wilderness Gardens near Gaydon in South Warwickshire.  They specialise in supplying natural grown, seasonal cottage garden and wildflowers, all from their beautiful cottage garden, with the aim that all their materials are recyclable and friendly to the earth. It’s a pleasure to support them here.

Spring Posey

Christmas is an important time at the burial ground, and we are very well aware that a good many famillies are keen to visit.  We are doing all that we can to enable this.

Even though temperature remain below freezing, there has been some thawing of the snow at Sun Rising.  Today, we are confident to say that the A422 is running fairly well, but we would advise extreme caution on Sun Rising Hill if you are travelling from the direction of Banbury.  The road from Brailes to Tysoe has been gritted and is also passable.

However, the lane from the A422 to Tysoe that runs past the burial ground is not gritted, and has only been accessible by 4x4s until today.  We made it through today, but once again it needs extreme caution as it remains dangerous with snow, frozen slush and ice. (See the photograph below: excuse the photo quality – it is taken on a mobile phone.)

The Lane between Tysoe and the A422

We have cleared the layby from the lane to the gate of the burial ground, and two cars parked neatly can fit in there.  We do not advise any car except 4x4s with competent drivers to attempt to enter the car park, where there is still a good depth of snow.

We have shovelled a path from the car park to the Roundhouse, and cleared the Roundhouse of snow.  However, we advise that the Roundhouse itself is likely to be slippery with ice. Be aware too that a slip on the paths may result in a painful injury, as the stones are uneven under the snow and ice.

Please stick to where you know there are paths at the burial ground if you do visit, as it will be easy to find yourself walking on snow-covered graves.

In conclusion, we would accord with the national advice not to travel unless it is necessary.  If however you are determined to come to Sun Rising, please note our words and be extremely careful, both on the roads and at the site.

It has been intensely frustrating, having cancelled our tree planting weekend, not being able to get all the trees in the ground.  Today we were able to put in another few, two families arriving with snow on the ground, to find the burial ground on a day when it felt as beautiful as it does in the height of summer.

Just an inch or so of snow, crispy with frost, the temperature around -3 degrees C, under the surface the earth was still deliciously soft and almost warm. Tonight temperatures are due to plummet to well below zero with a foot of snow, and the forecast anticipates no rise above zero for some days, so there’ll be no planting for a while, I suspect.

Over the last week, however, we were able to plant around 20 memorial trees, and with the help of a friend visiting from the United States (where 15 foot of snow is not unusual – thank you, Kevin) we were able to get in all the saplings around the war memorial.  We’ve used low tree guards in many plantings this year, and will see how they fare with the deer.

The trees around the pond have yet to be planted, but we are hoping now for a break in the weather between Christmas and the New Year to get these in and the majority of our other memorial trees.  Not only are some families more available at this time, but we also have access to more volunteers.

This evening as we left the burial ground, with clear skies and the moon above, snow on the ground, the setting sun shone golden.  It was quite breathtaking.

Sunset on Snow and Bench