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04
Jun 2021
Jayne Jackson began maintaining the Knaresborough Cemetery after feeling Harrogate Borough Council wasn't doing enough.
Mrs Jackson has been working on the grounds for almost four years but now ill health means she has to pack away her tools.
As a regular visitor to the cemetery, near King James' School, to visit her parent's graves Mrs Jackson said she was getting "frustrated" by its condition.
She said there were a host of issues including; long grass, overgrown bushes and tree roots causing graves to collapse.
Mrs Jackson has reported issues over the years including a leaking tap and damaged graves, to the council, but said these often went ignored or took a long time to be repaired.
Mrs Jackson said she knew she had to do something for the town she has lived in since she was seven years old.
Her lone volunteering turned into a large undertaking costing her "100s of pounds of my own money". She would tackle the overgrown foliage and keep weeds at bay.
It was also important for Mrs Jackson to carefully maintain the baby and war graves. Her aim was to create a peaceful place for others.
But now, she has been left questioning why she continues to work on such a large space alone:
Mrs Jackson has said she hopes Harrogate Borough Council take the same care she did to maintain the cemetery.
Councillor Andrew Paraskos, Harrogate Borough Council’s cabinet member for environment, waste reduction and recycling, said:
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