Grave concerns over Hendon cemetery's dead wood

Uncleared dead trees and fallen fences are creating problems at Hendon Cemetery and Crematorium, reports Joe Ives, Local Democracy Reporter

Dead trees and fallen fences at Hendon Cemetery and Crematorium (credit Joe Ives/LDRS)

Barriers separating mourners and golfers in Hendon are falling apart as fences collapse into disrepair.

A recent visit to Hendon Cemetery and Crematorium (HCC) by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) found numerous maintenance issues at the Barnet Council-run graveyard next to Hendon Golf Club.

These included significant portions of the fences separating HCC and the neighbouring golf course falling apart. In one case this has led to a direct view between sections of the fairway and the multi-faith cemetery.

Several parts of the 42-acre site are becoming steadily overgrown. On the visit, carried out by the LDRS earlier this month, a large tree was found chopped up and left strewn across several graves.

The cemetery, opened in 1899, is described by the council as “an excellent place for reflection”, providing visitors “with the opportunity to walk in relative peace and quiet”.

The crematorium, first added in 1922, completes a site representing the borough’s history and diversity, with dedicated sections for different faiths and parts of the community. The cemetery also has a significant number of graves for those killed in both world wars.

Asked about the fallen tree covering gravestones in one section of the site, a spokesperson for the local authority said: “Felled trees are usually left in place, as this significantly reduces our carbon footprint, and increases our biodiversity, as the trunk rots away and becomes a haven for insects and birds.”

Explaining the overall conditions at HCC, including fences left in disrepair, the spokesperson explained: “The council runs a rolling programme of maintenance. We currently have plans to replace the fence at Hendon Cemetery with a hedge, which will be more resistant to high winds, increase biodiversity and significantly reduce maintenance costs.

“We also have a robust rotation of grass cutting, which started in March and completes towards the end of October or early November.”

A recently published council report details how the electrical wiring systems at HCC “have come to the end of their serviceable life”. Works to replace these systems, originally meant to have been carried out between March and May, have yet to begin.

The plans were approved back in March when Naisha Polaine, the council’s executive director of growth, agreed to sign a contract with SG Building Services Ltd for £219,674, plus VAT, to complete the fixes.

Explaining the lack of action, a spokesperson for the local authority told the LDRS that the “works programme has been revised” and is now set to be completed in October. No explanation for the delay was given.

Asked about future maintenance and repair works at HCC, the council representative responded, saying: “We have recently completed refurbishment works to the public toilets at both the cemetery entrance and chapel, and have plans to redecorate the chapel complex once electrical works have been completed.

“The grounds maintenance building is also due to be demolished to create additional burial space.

“Grave maintenance is the responsibility of the grave owner however we intervene if on-grave planting out grows the grave boundaries and significantly affects adjoining graves.”

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