Overgrown churchyards

[pandacub]

I was visiting a family grave yesterday at a council owned cemetery which is kept well maintained.  However to get into this cemetery you have to walk through an adjoining church graveyard.
The grass in this church graveyard has not been cut in over a year now.  Some of the grass is waist high and there are weeds and brambles all over the place making it impossible to access many of the graves.

The vicar claims that it is now Church of England policy throughout the country to stop maintaining churchyards in order to save money and help protect the environment.  The council say they have offered to maintain the churchyard at a subsidised rate but this proposal was rejected.  As it is not their responsibility and as they are also short of funds there is nothing else they can do.

I was curious as to whether this really is a countrywide policy so I'd be interested to know if anyone else has come across this happening anywhere outside of Lincolnshire.

[rosie99]

I visited a Melksham Cemetery (Wiltshire) last week hoping to find some family graves.  In one area the grass was was over waist height though I am unsure whether that particular area was the responsibility of the church or local council.  Other areas were well maintained.

[pandacub]

Thanks, that's very useful to know. 

[rosie17]

Very sad to see the state of the grass in some of the cemeteries where we are in the West Coast it's the council that's responsible .Needless to say not maintained very well and when they do cut the grass it's just left such a mess .We actually have a man now that cuts the grass on our family grave and makes a pathway making it easier to access

Rosie

[pandacub]

Yes it's very sad to see overgrown cemeteries and I feel sorry for people visiting graves that are like that. 

[softly softly]

I agree it is sad to see certain overgrown cemeteries. How often have any of us offered our local church some time if it too is overgrown. I admit I have not.

John

[pandacub]

That's a good point.  A lady I was talking to in the churchyard yesterday is forming a group of concerned relatives.  If she gets enough people joining then perhaps some sort of gardening rota can be organised. 

[Kiltpin]

Not policy at St Leonards, Mundford, Norfolk. 

Regards 

Chas

[pandacub]

Thanks for the reply Chas.