Back to the Bournemouth Newsfeed

Grieving families unable to visit loved ones graves after Dorset council's eco policy left grass growing up to 4ft in some places, burying headstones

Grieving families have been unable to visit loved ones' graves after Dorset council's eco policy has left grass growing up to 4ft in places.

Grass has grown so high in some cemeteries in Poole, Dorset, that it has covered headstones.

Complaints have been made about the unkempt state of St Michael's church, Branksome Cemetery and Poole Cemetery.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council, which maintains some of the graveyards, declared a climate emergency in 2019 and pledged to become carbon neutral by 2030.

As part of the eco drive, they signed up to the green initiative of 'Let It Grow', which has led grass in public areas being cut less often to encourage biodiversity and habitats for pollinators.