ELEVEN trees in the churchyard at All Saints in East Meon – including one growing on a grave – are to be lopped, tidied up or felled.

The church has asked for permission to carry out the work by a tree surgeon on the five limes, one holly, four sycamores and one conifer.

The large conifer is growing inside the rectangle of a grave, obscuring it, and there was a request made from the family for it to be felled.

It is also shrouding the Lady Chapel, so the removal of it would lighten that up for congregation members and visitors.

The other tree to be felled if plans are approved by the South Downs National Park Authority, would be a sycamore close to property at the back of the majestic Norman church which was completed in 1150.

One of the features of the picturesque churchyard is a line of large, mature lime trees standing parallel to the road through the village.

These would all be repollarded – with upper branches pruned – leaving their crowns at a height of ten to 12 metres with a spread of six metres.

“I’m not sure how long they have been there, but they are enormous,” said church warden Olivia Hickling.

“If you drive through East Meon you can’t help but see them inside the churchyard as they are so high.

“They have hugely wide trunks and are very stable, but we want to lop them in case we have high winds. Better safe than sorry.”

They were faring well in the gale force gusts of Monday, she added.

A holly tree would be tidied up with a branch nearest the church removed.

And overhanging branches of the sycamores close to properties would be taken off.

One of the sycamores would be lifted by approximately six metres.

It is hoped the work can be carried out soon, to improve the light and the general maintenance of the trees.

There is no question of the grave affected by the conifer having to be repositioned.