A landscaper from Minchinhampton has offered to tidy Holy Trinity churchyard without removing grave decorations, but the church have declined, meaning many personal items will be banned from the grounds next month.

Jake Vincent, owner of JCV Landscaping, made the offer after the church said personal items were preventing contractors from safely trimming the grass.

Mr Vincent, who has 12 years’ experience in landscaping and has maintained churchyards in Cirencester and Bibury, said the job can easily be done without touching memorials, ornaments or vases.

“If it’s a little ornament you can pick up with your hands, I’d just move it out the way and strim it or if it’s a stone ornament just strim around it on low revs, it’s simple,” he said.

“If you’re more experienced with a strimmer, you could strim around a daisy and not even break it off.

“Churches have always had ornaments and flowers, I’ve never heard of this problem before.”

In a letter last week, Holy Trinity Church asked relatives to remove any ornaments, memorials, stones, vases, pots and children’s toys or else they will be taken away in a skip.

Families argued that it was their choice how they mourned at their relatives’ graves, but Revd Canon Howard Gilbert said while each memorial is private, the churchyard is a public space of remembrance which should remain safe, beautiful and follow legal churchyard regulations.

Mr Gilbert met with Mr Vincent on Tuesday, but the Parochial Church Council declined his services on the basis they could not afford them.

“We are really grateful that he took the time to come and meet us and talk about what needs to be done to maintain the churchyard and why items need to be taken off graves, both to meet churchyard regulations and also for the safety of contractors and volunteers,” said Revd Canon Gilbert.

“The contractor has provided us with a quotation for the works. On this occasion the PCC have decided to stay with our current contractor as we only have a limited budget for the upkeep of the churchyard. However, we would like to offer our thanks again to the contractor for meeting with us and providing a quote.”

As is it stands, all ornaments, stones, vases or children’s toys still in the churchyard at the end of April will be removed by volunteers and placed at the top of the churchyard, before being disposed of shortly thereafter.

The church have clarified that people are welcome to leave plants, bulbs, and flowers on graves, but not in their plastic pot or wrapper.