A conservation group has helped residents to reconnect with their ancestral heritage after making a grave discovery in a south Farnham churchyard.

Members of the Wrecclesham Conservation Group (WCG) recently discovered graves that had been lost for generations during their ongoing clean-up of St Peter's churchyard.

The gravestones belonging to George John Hack and Mary Ann Hack were almost completely buried underground as they were covered in thick vegetation.

It also meant the end of a long search for Hack descendant, Rose Jones, who had been looking for the ancestral graves as her family have attended St Peter’s for centuries.

The WCG are hoping to build a record of the inscriptions on the graves in the future as part of their ongoing bid to improve the churchyard for the community and wildlife.

While the churchyard restoration will take many more years, the WCG have completely cleared the centre block of the graveyard and much of the litter along the back fence.

“I want loved ones to have a beautiful resting place,” said WCG leader Myung-hye Chun.

The restoration has become a community-wide activity as a number of Duke of Edinburgh and work experience students have joined the efforts. But Myung-hye is looking for more young people to join the “welcoming and inclusive” group this year.

She said: “The WCG welcomes anyone, but we are particularly keen to provide youth education for nature and heritage work,” emphasising that they are a “welcoming and inclusive group.”

For more details look for Wrecclesham Conservation Group on Facebook or email Myung-hae at [email protected].

Meanwhile, a Frensham carpenter has nearly completed restoration work on the 140-year lychgate opposite St Peter’s is almost complete.

Danny Tongeman from BESP-OAK Carpentry said he feels a great sense of responsibility to restore this beautiful lychgate for the Wrecclesham community.