Swindon cemetery ‘like a horror movie’ as grass grows a foot high

Donna Walshe put a callout on social media asking for anyone with some free time to trim the grounds at Whitworth Road Cemetery because some of the lawn had grown to over a foot high.

It came in the wake of complaints from people about the overgrown grass near their loved ones’ graves.

Whitworth Road cemetery (Image: Newsquest)

Swindon Borough Council has now recruited more staff to look after the cemetery.

On Thursday and Friday, friends and strangers alike took strimmers and lawnmowers to the site and spent hours carrying out some maintenance.

Whitworth Road cemetery (Image: Newsquest)

Donna said: “Look at the state of it, it’s horrible. People come down here to see their loved ones but it’s bad.

“This was my week of annual leave and I spent a lot of it coming down here.”

Parts of Whitworth Road cemetery have become overgrown (Image: Newsquest)

Members of the public took it upon themselves to tidy up the cemetery (Image: Newsquest)

Sarah Lockey added: “You walk in and it looks like a horror movie. 

“Now that we’ve done it, is the council going to keep on top of this, or will they let it get back to how it was?”

One visitor, who did not give her name, was unaware of this informal protest and was tidying her family’s graves as part of a weekly effort to keep them looking presentable.

She told the Adver: “It’s looking pretty dire at the moment, which is sad. You pay council tax and expect things to be maintained, it’s a shame.

“Usually, I bring a lawnmower but the grass is too long now, so I’ve brought a strimmer.

“It was this bad during Covid, understandably, then it looked good until last summer and now it’s appalling, it’s not acceptable.

“They make more of an effort at Kingsdown, it’s much better there.”

Sarah Lockie at Whitworth Road cemetery (Image: Newsquest)

Coun Chris Watts is the borough council’s Cabinet member for the environment and transport.

He said: “I completely understand why people are frustrated with the lack of maintenance in certain sections of Whitworth Road cemetery.

“We need to put additional resources in to ensure the cemetery is tidy and well-maintained for visitors who want to pay their respects to their loved ones.

“I am pleased to report that extra staff will be joining the grounds team on June 19.

“Having the extra staff on hand will be a big help, but I would ask that local residents and visitors bear with us as it will take a little time to get the cemetery back into a manageable maintenance routine.

“This is because staff need to take extra care around the graves to make sure no items that are left there are damaged.”

Whitworth Road cemetery (Image: From public)

Whitworth Road Cemetery (Image: Newsquest)