A fantastic team effort at the Green Burial Meadow!
On Tuesday 28th July, volunteers from the Friends of the Green Burial Meadow joined Tavistock Town Council’s Works Department and Master Scythesman Kevin Austin for another successful day of traditional meadow management.
Why isn’t the whole meadow cut?
This year we’re trialling a mosaic management approach, leaving different areas uncut until later in the year. By maintaining a variety of grass lengths and flowering stages, we can provide food, shelter and overwintering habitat for a wider range of insects, birds and small mammals, while continuing to encourage the gradual development of the meadow.
Following the scything, volunteers carefully raked and removed the cuttings, helping to reduce soil fertility and create better conditions for a wider variety of meadow plants to establish naturally over time. Throughout the day, great care was taken to protect the wildlife that calls the meadow home.
Tavistock Town Council has provided a green burial service at Plymouth Road Cemetery since 1999. The Green Burial Meadow offers a peaceful resting place managed in a way that supports nature, wildlife and the environment. Over the years, the dedication of the Friends of the Green Burial Meadow has helped shape the area into an increasingly diverse and valuable habitat.
The Town Council would like to thank Kevin Austin, the Friends of the Green Burial Meadow volunteers and our Works Department for their continued enthusiasm, knowledge and hard work. Their commitment ensures the meadow continues to develop as a place of remembrance, biodiversity and quiet reflection for generations to come.
If you would like to find out more about the Green Burial Meadow at Plymouth Road Cemetery, or are interested in joining the Friends of the Green Burial Meadow volunteer group, please contact the cemetery team at [email protected].
