Is this practice widespread and is it irreverent?

[e.crespo]

I have just seen this article on the Mail web site: http://www.dailymail....ornaments-graves.html

I am slightly shocked, but should I be?
jj

[andy-hughes]

I think the Council have a fair point.

If you wish to decorate the grave of your loved one, then that's fine, but encroaching on all the nearby grass and trees is getting out of hand - and where does it stop?

What if a biker gang leader wants his Harley Davidson hung from the tree by his grave - an extreme example, but it is precisely in order to avoid this kind of situation that the Council has to put down a marker which everyone respects.

I personally don't like wind-chimes, and would not be impressed to find one rattling aweay if i was attending a service at the next plot.

[NazNomad]

It's vile ...

[andy-hughes]

Don't dress is up Naz - tellus how you really feel - and you could you try not to be quite so verbose another time!

[rov1100]

Someone has to regularly cut that grass surrounding the graves which cannot be done properly if all this (litter?) is lying around.

[woofgang]

fine to bury in the garden if you don't live in a flat....
I see both sides Andy, that's why i think alternative cemeteries might be a way forward.

[NazNomad]

" ... and you could you try not to be quite so verbose another time!"

Oh, please ...

[eyethenkyew]

Well, must admit that the photos reminded me of the Injun burial ground scene out of "A Man Called Horse" ? Anyone else notice that?

[anneasquith]

i think the issue is , its a child who only died 6 months ago. IMO it is ott, but maybe the family require a bit of time, and they could remove the items and replace them with a appropriate memorial,

[modeller]

I suppose it depends on what you call respectful and dignified.
In many parts of the world colourful graveyards are considered normal , especially in South America. Whole families go there and treat it in a joyful manner.

http://picasaweb.goog...a0giupokS3gXbvospzikQ

I agree with Lofty .

I don't want all this burial nonsense but I realise many do and I suppose it gives a lot of people employment.

[ludwig]

I wouldn't be seen dead in a place like that.

Seriously, what andy-hughes said. I's really sad to see a childs grave like that - I guess it's one of the ways people find to cope with that kind of tragedy, but you have to draw the line somewhere.

[sherrardk]

Maybe the council should have made it clear what the 'rules' were before it got so out of hand. I feel that it is verging on cruel to make grieving parents take down the things that they have already put up/put on display.

[Answerprancer]

Tacky or otherwise, so long as they are sticking to their 'plot' I think it's up to the family how they decorate the graves of their lost loved ones and none of anyone else's business.
The issue here afaics is one of non-conformity - Britain is a great nation for discouraging people from being anything other than homogenised zombies all acting and behaving in the same uniform way. Bloody normaliens.

[joggerjayne]

I think the Council are being really inconsiderate.

It looks fine.

[welshlibranr]

I've seen this happen in the past, some bereaved parents do react to the loss of a child in this way, and it can seem a bit tacky, but it's their way of coping with their terrific loss, I think they did go too far, but maybe the council could have been more tolerant and understanding!.........it's only been six months................

[askyourgran]

It doesn't look nice at all, these are very selfish people. There a hundreds of other graves that are treated respectfully. It reminds me of My big fat Gipsy wedding tbh.

[joeluke]

Who wants to visit a graveyard and be confronted with this eyesore?

Whatever happened to just flowers on gravestones?

If people want to build a shrine to a lost loved one then they should do it within the confines of their own home, or those things should be buried in the coffin alongside the body

What happens to those sentimental teddy bears/train set/ tonka toys on that childs grave when it rains? The soft toys will fall apart and the metal toys will rust.......plus there's always the chance vandals will come along and desecrate the display - and how bad will that family feel then?

[boxtops]

Sadly - the stuff is likely to be stolen or fall to bits. Cemeteries are no longer respected places.

[sherrardk]

What about compassion for the bereaved parents? I appreciate it doesn't look particulary tasteful but I don't expect that is one of your main concerns when your child has died.

[seadogg]

We dont know if the council have tried to have the junk removed in a tactful and sensitive way and failed. The Daily Wail is just after a story to get its readers wound up with indignation as usual.