The first stage of upgrading the Drybread Cemetery has been completed, with old pine trees around the border of the cemetery felled.
The first burial recorded in the cemetery was on February 28, 1870, and the facility is still in use.
It is located on Tony and Karen Glassford's farm, 10km from Omakau, and they appealed through the Otago Daily Times earlier this year for help to repair damaged and degraded graves and headstones.
Offers of support and practical help came from throughout New Zealand, from descendants of the 165 people buried in the cemetery and others with an interest in history.
"Felling the trees has made a big difference, " Mrs Glassford said this week.
The 140-year-old trees shaded many graves and branches had fallen, smashing headstones. Tree roots were damaging concrete graves.
Mr and Mrs Glassford paid tribute to the work of the late Palmerston arborist Steve Peat, who died on September 4 after an accident on State Highway 85 near Palmerston.
Mr Peat had helped fell the old pine trees and devoted five weekends to working at the cemetery.
A new shelter belt of poplar trees has been planted at the cemetery.
