A DISTRAUGHT Bewdley family have accused church bosses of “disrespect” after a graveyard has been allowed to become overgrown with grass and wildflowers as part of a ‘nature project’.

Daniel Crampton said he and his family are furious that the St Leonard’s Church courtyard in Ribbesford – which has the graves of a number of his relatives – has got into such a state that headstones are obscured and people are struggling to wade through the growth.

And the 32-year-old nurse added he was sceptical about the church’s reasons and believed it to be a money saving measure.

A spokesman for the church said a meeting with concerned residents is being arranged and the wildflower area would be mowed in August. In the meantime, pathways and areas of concern are being trimmed.

Father-of-one Mr Crampton said among the graves affected were his wife Laura’s father Michael Cronin, who died in 2010 aged 58 following a battle with lung cancer.

Her grandad and high-ranking army veteran Albert Carter, who served throughout the whole of the Second World War with the Royal Artillery, is also buried there alongside wife Hilda.

He said: “This is a churchyard, not a nature reserve, so to find it in such a condition is extremely upsetting and we are not happy. They didn’t consult with us.

“They said they are encouraging wildflowers to grow there but I think it is just a cost-cutting exercise. It costs a lot of money to buy burial plots but if they are short of money, why not arrange fundraisers to help?

“It is an eyesore, it is disrespectful to the dead and also a safety hazard – I know someone who fell three times in the grass when tending to a loved one’s grave.

“There are hardly any wildflowers growing there and the church is surrounded by countryside which would be perfect for such a project.

“They offered to meet to discuss the thinking behind the project but I’m not interested in that. We just want the graveyard cleared.”

A spokesman for the church said: “The church has had to make economies in many areas and funding for churchyard maintenance has ended. This is a national issue.

“Many authorities agree that sympathetic management of churchyards, including areas to foster wildflowers, is beneficial to environmental diversity,

“The Parochial Church Council inaugurated this project in January, with consultation through the Bewdley Bridge magazine and the St Leonard’s Church notice board from the beginning of February onwards.

“Through the spring, those who expressed their concern have been met personally and their wishes in respect of individual areas have been met with pathways and clear areas.

“When he first got in touch with us, Mr Crampton was immediately offered a meeting. He has so far declined. Meanwhile, mowing around the area which we believe is of concern to him and his family will be arranged urgently. It would have been better to meet him to be sure the location is correct.

“A further meeting will shortly be advertised on Facebook to allow us to listen and respond to others who now wish to make their views known.

“The wildflower area will be mowed in early August to allow for seeds to germinate. This has always been the published plan.”