2025-12-11 Sakura Project

On Wednesday morning 10 December, 16 new Japanese cherries were planted by Red Squirrel in the cemetery. The trees are a gift from the people of Japan, thanks to the Sakura Project. The Sakura Project started in the 2019-20 Japan-UK Season of Culture and celebrates continuing collaboration and friendship between the two nations. We applied for this back in February 2024, and almost 2 years later, here they are!

Fulham Cemetery has been known for its Japanese cherries since the 1950s (read our article), and the Friends have sought since our inception to preserve this legacy, starting with the 23 cherries planted in winter 2023. 

The trees were planted exactly where we intended:

• An avenue of white blossoms right in the middle of the cemetery, sure to become a major attraction in years to come (7 trees) 

• All gaps filled along the Munster Road avenue (4 trees)

• 5 trees informally planted in the southeast section along Fulham Palace Road, visible to passers-by and neighbouring houses

All but 2 of the trees are Tai Haku, the 'great white' cherry, the favourite of Collingwood Ingram, who popularised Japanese cherries in the UK in the 1950s. The other 2 are pink Beni-yutaka.