Grieving households unable to go to family members graves

Grieving families have been unable to visit loved ones’ graves after Dorset council’s eco policy has left grass growing up to 4ft in places.

Grass has grown so high in some cemeteries in Poole, Dorset, that it has covered headstones. 

Complaints have been made about the unkempt state of St Michael’s church, Branksome Cemetery and Poole Cemetery. 

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council, which maintains some of the graveyards, declared a climate emergency in 2019 and pledged to become carbon neutral by 2030.

As part of the eco drive, they signed up to the green initiative of ‘Let It Grow’, which has led grass in public areas being cut less often to encourage biodiversity and habitats for pollinators.

Grieving families have been unable to visit loved ones’ graves after Dorset council’s eco policy has left grass growing up to 4ft in places. Pictured: St Michael’s Church in Hamworthy, Poole

Complaints have been made about the unkempt state of St Michael’s church, Branksome Cemetery and Poole Cemetery in Dorset

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council signed up to the green initiative of ‘Let It Grow’, which has led grass in public areas being cut less often to encourage biodiversity and habitats for pollinators

But locals believe that graveyards and cemeteries are sacred and should be well maintained.

Lorraine Trevett said: ‘The grass in Branksome Cemetery was so high the other day that you couldn’t even see the headstones.

‘There’s also been complaints made about Poole Cemetery.

‘People pay enough to bury and lay to rest the remains of their loved ones.’

Kay Leach travelled 70 miles from Bristol to visit her parents and grandparents’ graves at St Michael’s but was unable to cut through the grass to reach them.

Other relatives have inadvertently trampled over graves as it was impossible to see where they were going.

It is understood that ‘private contractors and private volunteers’ maintain the cemetery, with the council only cutting the oldest part.

Mrs Leach said: ‘I used to live in Hamworthy and I would walk past that grave every day to go to school, back and forth and I have never seen it in such a bad state.

‘I think it’s wholly disrespectful; I couldn’t stand by the grave and I had to get my husband to walk all over it and lay the flowers that we bought because I physically couldn’t get there.’

Janet Trent, 70, was unable to visit her World War One soldier grandfather’s grave.

Local residents did not agree with the eco policy and believe that graveyards and cemeteries are sacred and should be well maintained

Relatives say they have inadvertently trampled over graves as it was impossible to see where they were going through the thick grass at the cemetery. Pictured: St Michael’s Church

She said: ‘It’s just disgusting, it’s a war grave so I’ve contacted the War Grave Commissions, the council, I’ve done all sorts and it’s upsetting when you see people unable to get to their relatives.

‘My friend’s got a four-and-a-half-month boy buried in there and she’s not able to get over to him.’

Sir Robert Syms, incumbent MP for Poole, said he has spoken with Lib Dem-run BCP Council about the quality of graveyards in the conurbation after another upset resident said a daughter was unable to tend her mum’s grave in Branksome.

He said: ‘I think the local authority does need to keep these cemeteries in a reasonable state of tidy so that people feel the graves of their relatives are respected.

‘People feel strongly about these issues and I think this should be a priority of the council.’

On St Michael’s Churchyard in Hamworthy, a BCP council spokesperson said: ‘Private contractors and private volunteers take care of the maintenance of St Michael’s Churchyard, with a council team assisting with the grass cutting, solely in the furthest, oldest section of the cemetery.

‘We carry out four cuts within this section per year, and the first cut of the year is scheduled by our team this month.’

A BCP Council spokesperson said of the state of Branksome Cemetery: ‘The dedicated team are halfway through Branksome Cemetery’s first grass cut of the year.

‘Resources are being redirected from other BCP cemeteries, where the first yearly cut has been completed, to support with this.’

They added: ‘BCP Council declared a climate and ecological emergency in 2019. Part of the response to this is to trial changes to the way some green spaces are managed across the BCP area.’

Regarding Poole Cemetery, the spokesperson added: ‘Grass cutting is underway at Poole Cemetery, with the two dedicated children’s sections being prioritised in the coming week.

‘As one of our largest cemeteries the team strive to ensure the plots are maintained to the highest standard achievable. Grounds maintenance continues, weather permitting, throughout the year.’

MailOnline has contacted St Michael’s Church for comment.