IT is with regret and disgust that I feel the need to write this letter. Both my dad and my grandmother are buried in the churchyard of Lewtrenchard.

On visiting both my dad's and my grandmother's graves last week I was appalled to see how very overgrown and unkempt the grass in the churchyard is now.

When my dad was alive he used to go down to the churchyard weekly to cut the grass on my grandmother's grave as it was frequently long and in desperate need of cutting. Now my dear dad is buried there himself I now drive out weekly from Tavistock to cut the grass to keep my family graves looking nice and cared for. I notice that other relatives who have loved ones there too have now followed suit and they too cut the grass themselves.

It is very distressing anyway having to make the sad journey out to Lewtrenchard weekly to see the appalling state of the churchyard and how it becomes more overgrown each week. Credit should indeed go to Tavistock Town Council and their workmen for the splendid way that the cemetery on Plymouth Road is maintained and looked after, looking immaculate all year round. I wish that my grandmother and dad were buried there. 

So I urge whoever has the 'powers that be' and who is responsible for the Lewtrenchard Parish to please take note and do something and soon.

It is all very well promoting the Baring-Gould History of the churchyard to possible visitors yet the grounds of the church are left in the sorry state that they are currently in. Credit must again go to Lewtrenchard Manor and its owners whose grounds are immaculate and are a credit to them. This sadly only highlights the very poor state of the 'forgotten churchyard' opposite.

I am sure other visitors are just as shocked and outraged as myself when visiting their loved ones.

Denise Langsford

via email