A woman said she was “appalled” after visiting her parents' grave in Hither Green and having to wade through the “knee-high grass” to reach it.
The woman, who wished to remain anonymous, visited Hither Green Cemetery in Lewisham on Wednesday, May 29. She claimed she could not see where she was going due to the length of the grass.
She said she spent 40 minutes weeding and removing rubbish from the graves around her parents' grave and trod down thistles “nearly as tall as her.”
Lewisham Council has confirmed that the recent heavy rainfall caused the grass to grow quicker and plans to mow this area are in place for later this week.
The woman told the News Shopper: “I couldn't see where I was treading and stepped onto other people’s graves, which was very upsetting.
“I understand that some graves can no longer be tended by family members as there may be no one left to do so. I also understand that local councils are cash strapped.”
A spokesperson for Lewisham Council said it is “very sorry” that any upset has been caused, and the area in question is cut monthly and is due to be mowed again later this week.
(Image: Lewisham Council)
The spokesperson explained: “We have had a lot of rainfall in recent weeks which causes grass to grow quicker than usual.
“Cutting wet and mud-covered grass during wet weather can also damage memorials, which we need to avoid.
“Plots in our cemeteries are maintained by cutting grass on a rolling cycle. We have checked this area, and it is cut monthly, with plans to mow again later this week.
“Some parts of our cemeteries are designated as meadow areas to promote biodiversity and help wildlife flourish.”
As the woman was leaving Hither Green Cemetery, she said she saw several men cutting the grass by the main road area but described the railway end as a “disgrace.”
“If we cannot respect our dead, then there is something very wrong with our society,” she added.
A Lewisham spokesperson added: “We are very sorry that any upset has been caused to a resident during a visit to one of our cemeteries.
“We encourage residents to contact us with their feedback so that we can investigate their concerns and try to resolve any problems swiftly.
“Some parts of our cemeteries are designated as meadow areas to promote biodiversity and help wildlife flourish.
“We sometimes receive complaints from residents about cutting grass too often, so we are always trying to reach a balance with our maintenance programs.
“The Lewisham Bereavement Team can be contacted by email a bereavement@lewisham.gov.uk or by phone at 020 8314 3210.”
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