A team of volunteers in the north has made such a difference to one of the graveyards on which it has worked that they are planning to take on an even bigger challenge.
Councillor Raymond Bremner, who lives in Thrumster, decided to improve the look of his local graveyard after he found that weeds were “very mature”, and service cuts meant Highland Council workers were unable to deal with the problem adequately.
Mr Bremner enlisted the support of fellow councillor Willie MacKay, and his wife Glynis, and they recruited a whole host of supporters who wanted to make a difference to Thrumster.
Their efforts have been the catalyst for the Wick New Graveyard project.
Mr Bremner said: ” Some time ago, I was passing Wick New Cemetery when a funeral was on, and I noticed that the grass was fairly long, and there were weeds on the paths.
“I knew that this was a concern for people who were attending funerals – but at the same time I know that the council did not have the number of staff members it would require to upkeep the cemetery as so many people expect.
“I went and checked Thrumster and it was in a terrible state. There were mature weeds at height and it hadn’t been tackled for some time. ”
After speaking to the Highland Council manager, Mr Bremner decided that, instead of expecting workers to pick up the slack, it was time for the community to become “Friends of the Cemetery.”
So far, Thrumster, and Wick New Cemetery have benefited from weekly teams of volunteers sprucing up the edges and weeding the paths.
Mr Bremner and the group are now considering a new challenge at Wick Old Cemetery and the ancient graveyard of St Fergus in the Caithness community.
He said: “I have had a discussion with the church minister, John Nugent, and subsequently met in the historic grounds of Wick St Fergus Church which has the tomb of the Dunbar family dating back to the 1500s.
“While we are still concentrating on the new cemetery, we have started clarification discussions on how this historic site can be tidied up and included in town centre regeneration discussions.”
Mr MacKay added: “It has been good to get out and about with the volunteers, and we are really beginning to make quite a difference.
“Everyone is welcome to come and join us.”