Highgate Cemetery is one of 96 registered parks and gardens that English Heritage considers to be ‘at risk’.

The Heritage at Risk register is a list, published for the first time yesterday, that highlights both public and private spaces that are most at risk from decay, neglect and pressure from development.

Highgate Cemetery is one of three large cemeteries that are under threat – Brookwood in Surrey and Kensal Green in London are the other two. English Heritage stated that: “Many of the cemetery buildings and memorials are in poor condition and the neglected landscape management is threatening the special historic interest of those designed landscapes.”

Also within the 96 are gardens or grounds that were originally designed for a single family home. However, latter disintegration into multiple-occupancy has left English Heritage with a headache – conserving landscapes with multiple owners.

Jenifer White, senior landscape advisor at English Heritage, said: “The register has helped us to see the scale of the problems and identify where we should direct our attention. We will work with owners to help them find ways to manage and conserve their parks and gardens. The Heritage at Risk register will, we hope, raise awareness of the fragility of these landscapes and highlight the need for English Heritage to work together with the owners to ensure that they are not lost for future generations.”