Upset over bramble covered grave
TWO sisters were left “appalled” when they found their family’s grave almost totally overgrown in Cathays Cemetery.
Hazel Thomas-Jones and Susan Western visited their family’s gave last Saturday but say it was so overgrown with brambles and grass that it took them half an hour to find it.
Mrs Thomas-Jones called on Cardiff council to clean up the area where seven members of her family are either buried or cremated.
The council says the grave lies in a conservation area, which means it is looked after differently than other parts of the cemetery, but said this area has not been neglected.
Mrs Thomas-Jones said: “We couldn’t even find the grave at first it was so bad. We were appalled. We couldn’t believe it. Because it’s an old part of the cemetery do they think people don’t go there any more?
“We were upset, and angry as well. We’ve always been able to find it and it’s never been in this state.”
A council spokesman said: “We are sorry when the family came to visit the grave they were upset to see it overgrown. At 110 acres Cathays Cemetery is the largest in Wales and the grave lies in a conservation area which is looked after in a different way to the rest of the cemetery. It appears the family were unaware of this and of the service we offer to people who wish to visit graves in this part of the cemetery.
“Instead of cutting the grass within the conservation area regularly we allow it to grow through the summer months to encourage native flora and fauna. This does not mean that these areas of the cemetery are neglected, the grass is cut annually at the end of the autumn period and completely raked off. We also have a programme of works in place for the winter months to cut back brambles and dead foliage which have become overgrown. These conservation management plans have helped the cemetery gain a green flag award for five years in a row. We have double checked and can confirm that the grave in question and this section of the cemetery is on a schedule for its winter tidy up.
“If any family are planning on visiting a grave on a regular basis in the conservation area then we do provide a free service through the summer months whereby we will cut a pathway to the plot and around the grave to keep it clear of bramble and long grass. All families have to do is contact us and supply the grave number and it will be added to the maintenance list. This work takes place every two weeks throughout the grass cutting season. Also, if there is a request to cut a path to any grave at any time we will respond within seven days and look to undertake the work as soon as we can.
“We did receive a request from this family two days ago to clear a way to this grave, we presume this was after their visit, but prior to that we did not have a record of them wanting to visit a grave in the conservation area. We will have this grave number added to the list for next year and in the meantime have the bramble and surrounding area looked at to remove any bramble or dead foliage. We would ask that the family make contact each year before the cutting season is due to commence (April) if they wish for us to continue to carry out these duties.”