Sutton Council has published a new Churchyard Management Plan for St Nicholas Parish Church. The plan was written at the prompting of the Friends of St. Nicholas Churchyard, who raised concerns about the state of repair of the churchyard boundaries, obscured sightlines, and the condition of the alleyway leading into the churchyard.
The churchyard is closed, meaning that no new burials can take place. However, the council still has a responsibility to maintain the churchyard as a place of respect and remembrance for the families of those buried there.
The new Churchyard Management Plan sets out several actions that the council will take over the next few years to improve the condition of the churchyard. These include:
- Repairing and restoring the churchyard boundaries
- Clearing overgrown vegetation to improve sightlines
- Improving the condition of the alleyway leading into the churchyard
- Creating a new management plan for the trees in the churchyard
- Developing a program to promote the churchyard's biodiversity
The council work closely with the Friends of St. Nicholas Churchyard and other stakeholders to implement the new plan. The Friends group is a voluntary organization that works to preserve and improve the churchyard. They organize many events throughout the year, including workdays, walks, and talks.
The new Churchyard Management Plan is a welcome development for the Friends of St. Nicholas Churchyard and for the local community. The plan will help to ensure that the churchyard is maintained as a place of respect and remembrance for future generations.
If you would like to learn more about the new Churchyard Management Plan you can read it here:
