Churchyard Maintenance

Churchyard Maintenance Update 04/08/2026  -

My apologies for the lack of any written report but things are now moving and worth sharing!

After several attempts to find a suitable working second hand petrol strimmer, we have now purchased a new one.  As a consequence 'July' strimming is now underway.  In this strim we don't rake afterwards as we want any seeds to fall into the ground (rain permitting!), for next year's growth.  In October we do another strim and this time we do rake up everything, to allow for those seeds to shoot and grow. The area in the central south of the churchyard (picture below) will return to mowed grass next year - there didn't appear to be much wildflowers in that patch. But, the south west corner will again by strimmed twice and then left to grow next spring.

To say that it was bit hot and dusty this morning would be an understatement.

Our last older green lawnmower has developed a fuel leak, so it's probably beyond economic repair.  It was only being used to 'chaff' down the strimmings so McCulloch has stepped into that role quite effectively.  He's a bit heavier and has a wobbly front wheel but good to make more use of him!

We have been gifted with a donation of 15 litres of wood preservative (and a couple of brushes) so over late summer and autumn the sheds will be treated.  Mark started on the churchyard maintenance shed this morning.  The colour is 'Urban Slate', grey, but it was a gift!  In addition the two wooden signposts have received a coating.  They may get a second coat betore wording is repainted in white.

Carol remains committed to eradicating weeds from within the brickweave path and should the grass ever start to grow agai, Sandra will be out with her strimmer in the cremation plot!

Mark, John, Carol and Sandra

Information:

We were a very small informal team of helpers who do our best to maintain the churchyard.  We don't, at present, have any formal time of meeting.  We just put ourselves to work when we can find the time, whether that's during the week or at weekends.

We are managing (not leaving!, there's a correction here) some areas of the churchyard 'wild' for nature.  In the most this is on the edges and around older, untended graves. But if you do tend a grave and it's 'in the wilderness' and you rather it wasn't then do let us know.

We have a fairly extensive set of tools at our disposal, with 4 petrol mowers, a couple of strimmers (little and large), a hedge trimmer, and a good selection of hand tools.

If you would like to help us then please do contact Mark (About Us) and we can arrange a time convenient to you to meet up and 'do some work' for however long you've got!

If you do tend any grave or cremation memorial stone then please do remove any old flowers/plants etc as the season progresses.  Likewise if you are leaving cut flowers then do not leave them in plastic wrapping.  We are trying to do our part for the enviroment and plastic waste is high in the media interest at the moment! The green bin in the car park area is for general church/churchyard waste (despite it's colour).

Many thanks for reading.

Mark and the churchyard maintenance team.

Updated: 20260804