Overgrown churchyards

[pandacub]

Yes I've heard a few mentions of sheep and goats, sounds a good idea to me.  We sometimes go on holiday to Cromer and goats are used there to keep the grass short on a hilly area near the beach. 

[AllanUK]

I have  been to  my local church this  morning and group of volunteers. were  cutting  the grass, I  know them  so went to speak to them, as a lighthearted quip someone suggested  getting  a few sheep  from the local farmer,  apparently years ago they did do it,  not such a bad idea.

LM

Last time I was at Cartmel, Cumbria (2019), we paid a visit to the Priory and they were still using sheep to keep the grass short. The sheep would normally be in the field next to the graveyard and when they were needed, the farmer would open the gap in the lower part of the dry stone wall and let them through. (image courtesy of Public Domain)

[Top-of-the-hill]

  I expect some of the visitors would complain about sheep as well.

[Maiden Stone]

Last time I was at Cartmel, Cumbria (2019), we paid a visit to the Priory and they were still using sheep to keep the grass short. The sheep would normally be in the field next to the graveyard and when they were needed, the farmer would open the gap in the lower part of the dry stone wall and let them through. (image courtesy of Public Domain)

Holes in the lower part of drystone walls to allow sheep access are called cripple-holes in my part of Lancs.

Sheep would eat flowers on graves. Goats would eat bunches of flowers + wrappers.
I startled a couple of sheep in a town centre church in Ballyhaunis, Mayo. I don't know if they were meant to be there. Cows were in the nearby main street for market-day. 

[Calverley Lad]

Talk of sheep and goats, our local churchyard keeps both to keep the grass and bramble down.
The animals are allowed only about 1/3 of the available space, the other 2/3 being used for the current burial space and the victorian part burials.
[The fence keeping the animals safe is @5ft high and is substantial.]
Mind you some of the burials are ancient, like 13th century so minimal grass cutting taking place.
 Brian

[Gillg]

Slightly off topic, our church needed work done around the exterior of the building to stop damp getting in around the base.  A group of retired engineers from the village got together and worked out how to do this and carried out the excavations. In doing so they unearthed quite a lot of skeletons - people who had been buried as close to the church as possible without a grave and with no known names.  A large new grave was dug and consecrated to our unknown parishioners and a local  joiner made a fine cross to go above the grave.  It was agreed that the skeletons had received a dignified burial. 

[RuthieB]

Oh to live in a village with a group of retired engineers! Lucky you!

It sounds like a fine and fitting reinterment and beautifully marked too.

[CaroleW]

How coincidental - just found this post

See this thread

https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=863577.0

[louisa maud]

I have a  feeling Churchyards are encouraged to be eco  friendly till about may to  allow  insects and things to thrive
Having  been to a meal today for a celebration I herd that the local priest  gets  numerous calls to clear the churchyard and people become quite irate, how  dare they?, I have mentioned   in the past that the churchyard is  looked after  by members of the congregation giving  their time FREE and  most are aged,  pity some of  the complainers don't give a hand  from time tio time, it  would  make life so much easier, the complainers  I  might add don't  go to church

LM