The Cemetery of the Year Award run by the Memorial Awareness Board is now in its fourth year and well established as an annual event to recognise Britain\'s best cemeteries and crematoria.

The stated aim of the contest is to raise standards in burial grounds and to raise recognition among the public of the important role cemeteries can play in communities as areas of beauty and tranquillity with a wealth of historical, social and ecological information.

Of course, MAB also hope to persuade cemetery authorities that part of the beauty and ecology of cemeteries and gardens of remembrance is in a greater variety of stone memorials, the competition being sponsored by the National Association of Memorial Masons (NAMM) as well as the Confederation of Burial Authorities (CBA).

The competition is open to any burial ground, cemetery, churchyard or garden of remembrance in the UK. There are two categories, one for those of more than five acres and another for smaller sites. The entries are judged on design, maintenance, facilities for visitors, choice of memorialisation and community involvement.

Memorial masons might like to draw the competition to the attention of the authorities with which they work as a way of showing their appreciation to those authorities.

Closing date for entries is 27 April. For details of how to enter call the awards administrator: