Churchyard's sheep 'trampling on graves'

Relatives have criticised the 'eco friendly' gardening solution at St Mary's Church in Tarring Neville '“ and vowed to fight to get the animals removed.

The rector, the Rev Paul Owen, drafted in the ewes and lambs a month ago to keep the grass and weeds under control.

He said: 'The plan was to return the churchyard to the way it would have been for many hundreds of years, until the invention of mechanical devices for tending grass.

'It has proven popular with visitors, and it's also cheaper than using a gardener to cut the grass.'

But trouble started brewing when the sheep began munching on expensive bouquets left at gravesides and pushed over ancient monuments.

Ray Baker, 68, whose grandparents are buried in the graveyard, said: 'These sheep are an unwelcome nuisance. They are literally trampling over the graves, especially my grandparents'.

'They've ripped up plants several times and we can't tend our graves properly when they're wandering around.

'They want to keep the front of the church looking nice, but at the back, you can just sweep it under the carpet.'

Mr Baker last week managed to restore his grandparents' graves, only for the sheep to start digging away at the shingle covering.

He is now demanding the animals '“ on free loan from a local farmer '“ are removed and professional gardeners employed.

Maureen Jacobs, 71, of Seaford, who also has family buried at St Mary's, added: 'It's a nice idea, but in practice, it's not practical.

The sheep keep wrecking things and leave droppings all over the graveyard.'

Mr Owen said: 'The decision to introduce sheep to tend parts of the churchyard was taken following consultation with the Archdeacon of Lewes and Hastings, who had been fully supportive.

'Since their introduction, there have been many favourable comments from parishioners and some have even expressed a desire to be buried with the sheep.

'Currently, the western side of the churchyard has been left to go "wild", while the lower south side is being cut and the remainder grazed.'