Caring for the War Graves and the environment

As we approach the centenary commemorations for the Armistice, the world turns its attention to the events of 100 years ago – to reflect on the 1.1million Commonwealth servicemen and women still commemorated at 23,000 CWGC sites today. But for the Commission, it is also a time to look to the future. How do we continue to maintain those sites? What are the challenges for the next 100 years?

As guardians of more than 1,750 acres of land, across six continents, one of our challenges is how we lower our environmental impact. We know resources, such as stone and water, are valuable and finite. We also know that our sites are constantly facing new challenges from the environment, including extreme weather conditions and changes in the quality of the stone available to us to replace and repair.

We know that we must adapt and change our working methods to meet these challenges.

Over the last 100 years CWGC has modernised and adapted its approach to the management and maintenance of its sites many times. From the introduction of petrol-powered lawn mowers, to the state of the art computer-controlled machines which replaced hand engraving, we are constantly evaluating how we do our work. This is all with the express aim of preserving the legacy of those who died.

CWGC is working on a number of initiatives to help identify new ways of working which are increasingly environmentally responsible. For example, our operations teams are exploring new ways in which we clean our headstones and memorials. Traditional cleaning products are becoming increasingly restricted as governing authorities identify the impact such products can have when they leach into the soil and area eco systems.

Working with partners in the heritage and scientific communities, we are exploring more environmentally friendly stone cleaning products, including the possible use of enzymes. We are continuing to carry out research work on this and limited trials will take place at some of our works depots. Some of the approaches we have been testing, on a very limited basis, have produced encouraging results, but it is early days.

Our global commitment also gives us a unique insight into understanding and mitigating factors, such as potential climate change. The Commission quite literally gardens the globe – working on every continent except Antarctica. And whilst none of our gardening staff would claim to be climate scientists, it is fascinating to hear first-hand their reports of the changes and challenges they are facing at the sharp end of our operations.

To help manage all these issues CWGC is taking a strategic review of our policies and addressing each area of operational activity to better understand and measure our environmental impact and identify ways in which we can counter the new challenges we face in an environmentally responsible way.

However, change or alternative methods of working, should not come at the cost of our core function. As the CWGC enters its second century of care, we remain determined to remember our war dead, with equality of treatment, and in perpetuity, to a standard of excellence.