Area 1 – This area will continue to be mown and strimmed on a 5/6 week cycle throughout the growing season. Hard surfaces to be kept clear of weeds. Tree planting is being considered for the unoccupied sections beside the allotments at the southern end of this section.

Area 2 – This area will continue to be strimmed on a 5/6 week cycle throughout the growing season.

The Horticultural Technical Officer (HTO) carried out trials of RHS organic and biodegradable vinegar-based weed killer in autumn of 2021 on the north-south path from the chapel up to the section that is parallel to the driveway up to Area 2. Results helped with the Council’s ban of glyphosate weed killer, and feed into its Chemical Review Audit.

Seeds (such as Erigeron) to be sown into the cracks in pathways when the grounds team clear out the weeds, which will help to increase the cemetery’s biodiversity/pollinators, suppress surface weed growth, mask the poor condition of the pathways’ surfaces and increase aesthetics.

Minor tree surgery was carried out in the autumn of 2021 by the HTO to remove diseased/dead/damaged sections of shrubs and small trees, and to increase tree canopy heights on several trees for access and to allow the development of wildflowers beneath. For example, the large conifer with foliage down to the ground, the conifer near to the chapel and the cherry beside it; both of which prevent parking by Council vehicles.

North-east corner of Area 2 – there is a section of the cemetery’s perimeter with no hedge that backs on to a house. The grass to be removed in the near future and the area sown with mixed wildflowers, tall biennials and smaller perennials.

Wildflowers to be sown along the border beside the drive (interspersed between the shrubs) up to Area 2 in 2023 or 2024.

Silver birch at the end of the drive – the canopy was raised and dead removed to allow vehicle access in 2021. This to be carried out every 2 years.

2,000 spring bulbs were planted in this area in October 2021 by a volunteer party in the grass strips either side of hard pathways.

Area 3

This area to be left is to become wild, with several closely-mown pathways cutting through the rewilding for access.

End of season (September/October) – the area to be mown and strimmed. Rather than the arisings being removed from site, a compost bay was created in 2021, which will help with the logistics of autumn maintenance, namely what to do with the arisings.

Several strips of land – which run west-east, from higher to lower ground – to be marked out, scarified (either mechanically or manually) and sown to. Dimensions to be approx. 2m in width and approx. 30m in length. See e-Maps PDF.

Beginning of 2022 growing season (April) – 2 pre-season cuts are required to remove the vigour of the grasses, with the arisings being collected to prevent soil nutrification and covering yet undeveloped wildflower seeds. 1 further cut may be required in early May 2022, which will be decided upon at the time.

The development of wildflowers to be closely monitored and managed, with additional wildflower plugs to be added from dedicated stock beds, as required.

This old area of the cemetery to be managed in 2023 with an Amazone Profihopper that was acquired in early 2023, which can cut, collect and scarify wildflower areas. This will mean that there will no longer be decomposing waste fertilising the soil.

Paths, edges and boundaries

Paths, edges to tarmac paths and perimeter boundaries around area 2/3 will need to be cut in line with area 1’s grass cutting.

Known active headstones to be kept clear via a closely-mown path. Their locations will need to be permanently marked when using new ride-on equipment to avoid collisions, such as with stakes.

Image 1: Example of tightly cut paths, through wildflower meadows in a churchyard.

Image 2: Further example of meadow management within a churchyard

Education and Information

• Information board to follow (to include info on what we are trying to achieve, possible wildflower flora and fauna, contact for persons wanted cut pathways/headstone access)
• More info on website required, plus social media posts.

Volunteer involvement

• Possible ‘friends of…’ groups or volunteers to assist with future caretaking.