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Sally Puddifoot, the Sheffield General Cemetery’s Landscape Manager, is always up for a challenge so when the heavy snow fell last week, she and her children built an igloo in the garden.

Sally decided to go one step further and brave the elements by spending a night sleeping in the igloo in return for sponsorship money for Sheffield General Cemetery.

Sally said: “We made ‘bricks’ using a washing up bowl and I have to say, we were pretty proud of the result!”

Sally Puddifoot, the Sheffield General Cemetery’s Landscape Manager slept in an igloo to raise money

After building the impressive structure Sally then got the idea that it might be fun to sleep in it overnight, and if she was going to do something like that, it might be a good idea to get some sponsorship.

Sally manages the landscape volunteers who look after the Cemetery’s listed site and she knows how hard fundraising has been hit by the pandemic.

Sally set up a ‘Just Giving’ page, donned her thermals and crawled into the igloo.

She said: “It was pretty cold and uncomfortable, and my feet stuck out of the doorway but I’m pleased I did it!”

So far she has raised an impressive £700 to help support the work of the Cemetery.

She added: “The Cemetery is a hidden gem, much loved by local people and the Trust’s volunteers who give so much of their time and energy to care for it.

"It has been of even more importance during the last difficult year. Local people have really appreciated having this lovely open space to walk in”

Mike Clarke, Chairman of the Sheffield General Cemetery Trust said “It a fantastic result. Well done Sally and thank you to all those who supported her!”

Sheffield General Cemetery is a valuable green space in the heart of the city.

The site is of unique historical importance, containing 87,000 burials and is a haven for wildlife and a tranquil place for all to enjoy.

Opened in 1836 and with the last burial in 1978, the site is now preserved as a mixture of meadow, woodland and monuments.

The site also contains a unique, and fully accessible events venue, The Samuel Worth Chapel.

Igloo ice sleepover to raise money for Sheffield cemetery