COMMUNITY volunteers turned out in force to give a Middlesbrough cemetery an autumn makeover.
The TS1 Tees Valley Community Group teamed up with the Friends of Thorntree Cemetery and Middlesbrough Council to plant trees at the cemetery.
The group planted saplings around part of the perimeter of the cemetery, adding to bulbs and hedging already planted by the Council and the Friends group.
TS1 Tees Valley Community Group Development Officer Gohar Ihsan said: “I’m grateful to everyone who helped to bring the programme together, and it’s certainly something we’ll be looking to do again in the future.
“It’s been great to raise awareness and get local people involved in making a real difference for their local community.
“It was particularly pleasing to see so many young people taking part, and in the process help to bridge the gap to the older generation and foster a real sense of values and ethics.
“Everyone who came along thoroughly enjoyed themselves and left with a real sense of achievement – you know they enjoyed themselves from the number wanting to know when the next project will be!
“Our aim is to get everyone across Middlesbrough motivated to think about, care and support their local areas – in partnership with our local authorities.”
Councillor Tracy Harvey, Middlesbrough Council’s Executive Member for Environment, said: “Middlesbrough’s cemeteries are important places for families to grieve and remember loved ones.
“We do all we can to keep them in first class condition, but we can only do that with the help of local champions like the Tees Valley Community Group.
“This clean-up and tree planting is a shining example of what can be achieved when local people come together, and I look forward to similar schemes elsewhere in the town.”
- For more information on the TS1 Community Group and how to get involved, call 01642 817725.
The Friends of Thorntree Cemetery are also always ready to welcome new members to join in with their activities. Anyone interested should contact Acklam cemetery office on 01642 515712.