Fulford Cemetery makeover: dozens of volunteers turn out

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In May, campaigners claimed the cemetery was ‘falling to bits’ after the parish council announced that fewer areas of grass were being cut – and less frequently – as it bid to reduce costs within its 30-acre grounds.

Mark Tubridy said he had been visiting the cemetery for 44 years and looks after five graves. He said: “It’s slowly getting worse."

The older graves in 78 per cent of the 50 plots were set to be left unmown apart from an end-of-season trim of annual rough cut, the parish council said at the time.

And earlier this month City of York Council agreed to manage the site and burial services for York for one year from August.

The event was coordinated by Matty Lewis who is head of foundation at the York-based Fortus Foundation which helps support community groups, schools and small charities across the region.

Matty said: “We had about 30 people volunteer to come along and we have a mixture of skills and tools which ultimately means we can mow, strim and tidy.

"When you look across and you can't even see the headstones and the graves just accessing them is a challenge, so to be able to tidy it to such an extent that families can come and see their loved ones, you can't even measure that."

Matty explained that one of The Fortus Foundation funders – Kev Widdrington of Hindle Controls – called him on the Monday morning after Father's Day letting him know that the cemetery was in a bad way.

Dan Millar from Rudding Park (Image: Haydn Lewis) Kev's wife, Sarah and children, Freddie and Ella were among the volunteers taking part in the clear-up.

Sarah said: "My dad and sister are buried here and when we can on Father's Day we brought a strimmer because we'd heard before hand that it was in a state, but I was surprised just how overgrown it had got when we arrived. Everyone we met that daywas quite upset at how it looked.

"I think it's amazing, just fantastic that everyone is taking time out of their day to come and do this."

Robert Clare, the course manager at Rudding Park Golf Club and his son Jake were among the team from the course who had brought machinery to help with the tidy up.

"It's in quite a state, it's sad to see that it's been let go like this, but this particular mission is right up our street," said Robert. 

Robert Clare and his son Jake getting stuck in (Image: Haydn Lewis) Mike and Rachel Brand owners of Clucking Oinks were both there and offered all the volunteers free food for their efforts.

"It's nice to be able to give something back," said Rachel.

Mike and Rachel Brand owners of Clucking Oinks (Image: Haydn Lewis) A spokesperson for Fulford Parish Council said: "This day of action, working in the cemetery grounds has helped to make a real difference to the visitor experience at Fulford Cemetery and the Parish Council has been bowled over by the community spirit demonstrated by all those involved, to whom we are very thankful."

The grass around the graves at Fulford after it had been cut and cleared (Image: Matty Lewis)