Concern in Kirkwall as older section of St Olaf’s shows signs of neglect
Paths in the older section of St Olaf’s Cemetery in Kirkwall have become noticeably overgrown with moss, weeds and thistles, a local resident has told The Orcadian, raising fresh questions about how the Orkney Islands Council (OIC) is managing burial-ground maintenance with a constrained budget.
A visit to the cemetery this week confirmed vegetation encroaching on surfaces in parts of the grounds that remain in use for family plots. The complainant described the area as being in a “disgusting state”, adding that “the surfaces are covered in moss and weeds and the thistles are knee high.”
"The surfaces are covered in moss and weeds and the thistles are knee high."
OIC has told the newspaper its staff continue to monitor the paths at St Olaf’s and will carry out maintenance as required to keep them “safe and passable”, but stressed this activity must be managed within the limited burial grounds maintenance budget available.
Budget pressures and cuts to maintenance rounds
The issue in Kirkwall comes amid wider changes to how grass and grounds are being maintained across Orkney. The council has reduced grass maintenance across most kirkyards from 418 cuts in 2025 to 312 cuts in 2026 as part of efforts to contain costs on an overstretched budget.
In addition to St Olaf’s, three other burial sites have been identified for a possible reduction in routine grass cutting from 12 cuts per year to eight: Warebeth in Stromness, Firth and Stenness. The council has characterised the proposals as intended to deliver “consistency and equality” with other sites across the county, rather than simply cutting expenditure.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Burial grounds maintenance budget 2026-27 | ~£104,000 |
| Expected grass cutting costs 2026 | ~£105,000 |
The council pointed to the financial constraints it faces; a spokeswoman noted the burial grounds maintenance budget for 2026-27 is around £104,000, while grass cutting costs are expected to be around £105,000. That shortfall underlines the tight choices facing local officers on how often sites are cut and cleared.
Local reaction and wider implications
Community councils and the former contractor for the maintenance work, Ewan MacKenzie, have criticised the move to scale back services at some sites. Locally, family members who retain plots in the older sections of St Olaf’s have practical and emotional reasons to expect safe, passable paths and a tidy appearance.
For Kirkwall residents the debate is not just about aesthetics. Burial grounds are active places of remembrance and regular maintenance affects access for mourners, the elderly and those with mobility needs. Reduced cutting frequencies and delayed path sweeping can increase slip hazards in wet or frosty conditions and make navigating kerb-to-grave routes more difficult.
- St Olaf’s is one of four cemeteries proposed for a reduction in grass-cutting frequency.
- The council says it is monitoring paths and will carry out required maintenance but is bound by a limited budget.
- Grass maintenance across most kirkyards was cut from 418 to 312 rounds between 2025 and 2026.
Orkney Islands Council must balance competing priorities across islands and communities while operating within a small budget envelope. Where the line is drawn between maintaining dignity and memorial safety, and achieving economy across many sites, will remain a matter of local discussion as the council progresses its proposals.
For now, council officers say they will continue to assess St Olaf’s and undertake maintenance where it is required to keep routes safe — a position that will provide little comfort to those who prefer to see strimmered paths and tidied plots returned more swiftly.
