17/10/2026
As autumn settles in, the way we care for our cemeteries changes with the season.
As grass growth slows, our maintenance programme turns increasingly to winter work, including hedge and shrub management, tree work and the turfing of lawn graves.
This year that includes graves awaiting turfing following burial, as well as some existing lawn graves where deed holders have been asked to clear the grave space so that turfing can take place.
We know cemeteries are deeply personal places and that changes around a loved one’s grave can cause concern. That is why our Cemeteries Regulations were carefully reviewed, informed by public consultation and independently supported by our professional sector body, the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management (ICCM). The approach seeks to balance personal remembrance with safety, accessibility and the respectful maintenance of our burial grounds.
The new regulations also provide greater choice. Deed holders of coffined lawn graves can now apply for a new 4ft kerbset memorial option, allowing more of the grave to be incorporated within an approved memorial.
For the time being, affected graves will be turfed as part of the winter programme. Anyone wishing to explore the new kerbset option can contact the Cemeteries Office on 01903 737954 or [email protected].
Thank you for helping us care for these important places respectfully and consistently for everyone who visits them.
