PICTURES: Teenagers in Ardersier show they are a cut above when caring for their community
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Three teenagers have taken it upon themselves to maintain the village cemetery in Ardersier.
Kieran Buchan (18) and brother and sister, Micah-Stephen (18) and Kelcy Campbell (17) have been cutting the grass and wiping headstones so that it looks nice for anyone who visits.
It came after they noticed the area was not getting its usual attention from Highland Council during the coronavirus lockdown.
Kieran, a farm tractor driver, said: “When we saw that the graveyard was becoming overgrown, and knowing that there were family funerals about to happen, we decided that we would cut the grass.
“We went up to the graveyard and we spent eight hours on it and we went back the next day and took away all the grass cuttings and disposed of them.
“We also went round all the gravestones and brushed away the grass and cleaned the headstones.
“My family is from the village, and most of my family are buried up there.
“The grass had not been cut during the lockdown and we wanted it to be the very best that it could be for the funerals that were due to take place.”
He continued: “We didn’t know where we should get permission from – we just saw that it needed done. We had the time and the equipment so we just got it done.
“We didn’t do the war graves side of the cemetery but we are happy to do it next time we are up there.
“It is really good to be able to do something for the community.”
Highland councillor Trish Robertson commended the teenagers.
“These young adults have done a fantastic job – what an example they are,” she said.
“It is really lovely that they care about their community, and if I can I will support them with anything they need to keep working at the graveyard in the future. Thank you to them, what they are doing is fabulous.”