Found something to post about..............
Like the snowdrop photos the other day, these daffodil buds, not too far from opening, are on the bank of the Churchyard. The few daffodils that survive in my garden are a long way behind.
After weeks of rain the mini digger came to the churchyard to dig a new grave. Now the lower entrance to the burial ground looks like this. This is often the way mourners and the coffin bearers enter for the committal....oh dear.
The mud - it is bad this year, not surprising with the rain but it makes getting out and about with the dog a bit of a mission. Tried pavement and lane walks yesterday and a combination of disgust and disappointment from the dog and the fact she was still filthy when we got home makes me think that I'll go back to our normal route and just have to swill us both off at the end
ReplyDeleteI appreciate that using a minidigger is an easier way to dig the graves, and obviously it has to access the site somehow. But what a shame there is no properly paved footpath as well. Is there any way the community and Parish Council can rectify that? Our village burial ground has a noticeboard which has fallen into disrepair, so the Men's Shed are currently restoring and refurbishing it. People who come to these sites are often feeling sad and overwhelmed - and it is important that they feel that the resting place of their loved ones has been maintained with care and respect. Nobody should have to pick their way through muddy puddles en route to a funeral.
ReplyDeleteGosh - note to mourners to Wear Wellies! I am sticking to the lanes if I go out here - e.g. if the non-stop rain ever lets off, which isn't very often. TO think I moaned about it being so hot and dry last year. . .
ReplyDeleteI remember attending a wet winter burial in the far corner of the churchyard; Old Jack had a lovely spot overlooking the fields but, oh dear, the trek across the mud in our good shoes to get there. The vicar was wearing a good old-fashioned woolen cloak and wellies - I was very envious.
ReplyDeleteIt would be good if something could be done about your burial ground entrance.
That looks awful, what a horrible site for mourners to negotiate.
ReplyDeleteWalking the dog is a menace at the moment, slipping and sliding over sodden ground.
Penny
It looks pretty dreadful, though I am glad to see a mini digger it does take some of the heavy work load of digging away the soil.
ReplyDeleteI don't suppose the muddy access to the grave site will be the memory uppermost in the memories of the mourners.
ReplyDeleteParts of our garden look like that at the moment. The daffodils are lovely.
ReplyDeleteAlison in Devon x
Thank goodness for the daffodils in bringing a splash of colour to the churchyard but oh fear, the thought of lowering a loved one's coffin into a water-filled grave - ugh! it horrifies me!
ReplyDeleteEven gravelled would help. Maybe that keeps burial ground services small and only immediate family attend.
ReplyDeleteToo early for daffodils here. Our cemetery will lay down large sheets of plywood for families to walk on if the ground is soggy or muddy.
ReplyDeleteThe daffodils are lovely to see.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like mud season has started in your area.
Our ground is still frozen solidly with snow on top.
March-April is generally muddy for us.
Thanks everyone for comments
ReplyDeleteThe daffodils are beautiful. Definitely a gumboot entrance, that.
ReplyDeleteWelcome to life in the country in the winter! Many our little churchyards are surrounded by muddy paths leading to the graves. But if there's a service the funeral director usually places 'grass' matting in place for mourners to walk on. Mini diggers are used widely as for many years there has been a decline in grave diggers. And as for the parish council (probably parochial church council) or local parishioners constructing a walkway I'm afraid there's little spare money and what there is is used for the upkeep of the churches. But enjoy our little churchyards in the spring, summer and autumn. For the peace and tranquility is second to none.
ReplyDeleteIt will be a while before we see daffodils, but we might see the mud soon! It's been mild, but there is still a lot of snow and ice around. It's surprising how long it takes to melt!
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