RESTORING DIGNITY AT CEMETERY
Volunteers will do jobs like planting and painting gates
A new volunteerled group has been formed in a bid to help improve the condition of Crieff Cemetery.
A partnership agreement has been signed which wi l l see Friends of Crieff Cemetery carry out a range of tasks such as bulb planting, helping to maintain shrub beds, painting gates and railings, as well as other jobs.
Chair Mark Hunter explained: “We’re not taking over Perth and Kinross Council’s job. We’ve not to do work on any gravestones, gravesides or anything like that – that ’ s definitely not in the remit. It’s about guardianship.
He continued: “The new part of the cemetery is quite well maintained but the older part isn’t. The boundary wall has come down and the fence is down so there’s a kind of unofficial ‘ entry point’ for unauthorised people.
“I’m down at the cemetery quite a lot and there are parts that are in a state of disrepair.
“We want to restore the dignity of the area.”
A new volunteer- led group has been formed in a bid to help to improve the condition of Crieff Cemetery.
A partnership agreement has been signed which will see Friends of Crieff Cemetery carry out a range of tasks at the Ford Road site.
These will include things such as bulb planting, helping to maintain shrub beds, painting gates and railings, as well as other jobs.
Chair Mark Hunter explained the group was formed following conversations between himself and Craig Finlay of Friends of Old St Michael’s Church, as well as members of Perth and Kinross Council’s community greenspace team, and mirrors one already set up in Comrie.
He said: “We’ve signed a partnership agreement and our remit is for things like tidying and general maintenance.
“We’re not taking over Perth and Kinross Council’s job. We’ve not to do work on any gravestones, gravesides or anything like that – that’s definitely not in the remit. It’s about guardianship.
“We’ve got about five members so far and we’re looking to build on that.
“We’ve got a new Facebook page and an email address so we’re hoping people will get in touch if and when they have any time to help out.
“We’re just going to try to dedicate as much time as we can to it on an ad hoc basis. It’s just a case of getting boots on the ground.”
Mark, who lives in the town centre and is also a member of Crieff Community Council, went on to say that he felt that the cemetery tied in with many of the aims identified in the wide-ranging Crieff Community Action Plan – such as in terms of heritage and biodiversity, among others.
He continued: “The new part of the cemetery is quite well maintained but the older part isn’t. The boundary wall has come down and the fence is down so there’s a kind of unofficial ‘entry point’ for unauthorised people.
“I’m part of a group of litter pickers in Crieff and we’ve seen people down there a few times, youths drinking and what have you.
“I’m down at the cemetery quite a lot and there are parts that are in a state of disrepair.
“We want to restore the dignity of the area.”
Although Friends of Crieff Cemetery is a separate constituted group, Mark also said he was appreciative of the support received by Crieff Community Council in relation to what is a long-running issue.
He continued by saying a “very generous” anonymous donor has said they will donate £2000 to the new Friends group if the same sum can be raised between its members and Perth and Kinross Council.
Carse of Gowrie Conservative elected member, Councillor Angus Forbes, was convener of PKC’s environment and infrastructure committee prior to last week’s council elections
He officially launched the wider Friends of Cemeteries scheme at Sillerburn Cemetery in Kirkmichael.
Cllr Forbes said: “Cemeteries are not just final resting places – they are also places of comfort, as well as green spaces which are important to their communities and places of historical and ecological interest.
Our remit is for things like tidying and general maintenance...It’s about guardianship
Mark Hunter group chair
“The council carries out routine maintenance of cemeteries, but the Friends of Cemeteries scheme supports communities and volunteers to work with the bereavement services team to carry out improvement work and promote pride of place.
“When people visit to remember loved ones, they want do so in the nicest possible surroundings and I’m sure all our Friends groups will help make our cemeteries more welcoming and comforting places to visit.”
• For more information, search for ‘ Friends of Crieff Cemetery’ on Facebook or send an email to focc1858@gmail.com.