Charity workers banned from using lawnmowers to maintain medieval cemetery due to 'health and safety' concerns

The Hampshire cemetery, which is the final resting place of a Titanic casualty and seven WWI victims, has been under the volunteers' care since 2014.

The group has its own insurance for using power tools but must now halt operations due to new council insurance rules.

Dr Dave Stewart, 73, chairman of the charity, warns they may have to cease their work if the ban remains in place.

"We can't keep grasses and other vegetation down using a pair of scissors," said Dr Stewart.

He expressed concern about the approaching growing season, noting that by March, vegetation growth would become unmanageable without proper equipment.

"It would take a large number of volunteers a lot of time" to maintain the grounds with trimmers alone, he explained.

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The group has spent 10 years "getting it in a good shape," Dr Stewart added, warning that "in a year it could be overgrown again, things grow so fast."

The council informed the Friends via phone call earlier this month to stop using power tools.

In a follow-up email, a council official acknowledged the group's likely frustration, writing: "I understand that you will be annoyed at this as you have been maintaining the graveyard for so many years with no problems."

The official added: "Please know that we really are not trying to be difficult, we really appreciate and value all the work you carry out at the graveyard."

The council explained they were consulting with insurers, health and safety experts and other councils "to ensure we come to the correct decision for this authority."

The site dates back to medieval times, with the oldest visible grave from 1694. Winchester City Council officially took control of the cemetery in late 2021.

The Friends began as an informal group nurturing the land and wildlife, before registering as a charity in 2019 to secure insurance for power tool use.

The group has approximately 75 volunteers who work in teams of 10 to 12, with each person contributing one day monthly.

"The tragedy is that our volunteers love coming here," said Dr Stewart, a retired geologist. "If we had to abandon the thing because of this, it would be tragic for them as well as us."

The council met with the charity's trustees on January 24, but failed to provide their promised full explanation for the ban.

Instead, a council representative indicated they would work towards a resolution through a licence agreement.

A Winchester City Council spokesperson said:

"The Friends have already been told that they can continue their work on Saturday. We have no intention of banning any part of the brilliant work they do and are working with the Friends to sort this out."

"We want to do everything we can to enable volunteers across the district, but as with our contractors, we also have a duty to ensure that volunteer activities on public land are safe, insured and the equipment is properly maintained. This is not just for our assurance, but theirs and the public’s safety too. We are confident that the volunteers can continue their work and we will support them to do so."