Sidbury and Sidmouth cemeteries are basically sited on former meadowland – and something the Cherishing Sidmouth’s Cemeteries project would like to see would be enabling the dormant meadow flowers to flourish through careful management of the dominant grass.
There are other notable areas – such as the former field boundaries and the spots where trees have been planted, as is common in graveyards and cemeteries. And both Sidbury and Sidmouth cemeteries have some fine examples.
Here are a couple photographed by CSC working party member Amanda O’Connell in the spring:
The latest working party report from 22nd August looks at the team doing something a little different – that is, planting some woodland bulbs around some ‘wooded areas’ of Sidmouth Cemetery. These should come up in the spring under the trees and boundaries where there is a little shade – perfect habitat for a splash of colour.
The CSC working party not only has several members who are expert in what to plant where – but it is being mentored by the council’s Horticulture Officer. There is also a lot of advice available on horticulture in graveyards, churchyards and cemeteries, from the Plant Network for example.
Whether it’s crocus (already planted in the late spring) or bluebells (English! and planted last week), it needs to be done with thought – which is exactly what’s happening!
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