The secret pet cemetery that was almost lost forever

Tucked away in a Surrey woodland is something you may not expect - a pet cemetery.

No famous names or grand monuments, it contains rows and rows of tiny headstones - each marking the life of a much-loved companion.

The Chobham Pet Cemetery in Little Heath Meadow is one of Britain's lesser-known heritage sites.

So much so even some locals don't know it, says Barry Frazer, a member of a group maintaining the site.

"It is disguised with lots of tall trees," he tells BBC Secret Surrey.

Established in 1932 by Lt Col R H N Baxter and his wife Millicent for their own dogs, the cemetery is the final resting place for more than 300 beloved animals.

At the time, pet cemeteries were rare outside London.

The Hyde Park Pet Cemetery, established in 1881, was already well known, but Chobham's site represented a more local, community-driven initiative.

As the sun sets, Mr Frazer shows the BBC some of the gravestones.

One marks the life of Chum - "my darling, who fell asleep on March the 23rd, 1936".

"Loving, loyal, little. How I miss you. Life won't be the same," it reads.

Another is for a champion racehorse, awarded a medal by the Daily Mirror.

There is even one for a pet called Simon.

Still, not all headstones are for pampered pooches or mischievous moggies.

One dog interred at Chobham was awarded the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross for bravery, underscoring the cemetery's role as a memorial not just to companionship but to service.

The last recorded burial took place around 1970.

After that, the cemetery fell into disuse. For nearly half a century, the site was left untended, gradually reclaimed by nature.

By the 1980s and 1990s, it was largely forgotten, hidden beneath dense undergrowth.

After decades of neglect, the cemetery was rediscovered and has been restored in recent years by a team of local volunteers, including Mr Frazer.

It now offers a poignant reminder of the enduring bond between humans and their pets.

Mr Frazer tells the BBC pet cemeteries date back thousands and thousands of years.

"It's not a new thing," he says.

While a resting place for the deceased, the volunteer says every time he comes to the cemetery he sees "something different".

"[There's] wildlife up here," he adds. "You'll find deer early some mornings.

"It's interesting."

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