The council share this latest news. Ed
The Gardens of Remembrance, together with the backdrop of the Woodland Walk and stream flowing through it, provide a special and sacred place for the final resting place for loved ones.
Isle of Wight Council Bereavement Services are kindly requesting for people to place appropriate memorials within the grounds of the crematorium in order to keep the grounds as natural as possible and to provide a pleasant and dignified place for people to remember their loved ones.
Forbidden items
The Friends of the Crematorium group has been working with bereavement services to urge people to be considerate to others by not placing the following items, which may be removed by staff:
- Multiple memorials in one area for one person.
- Memorial plants being planted in the area dedicated for scattering ashes only.
- Marked out areas made from stones, wood or plastic fencing which contain multiple memorials for one person within the area dedicated for the scattering of ashes.
- Solar lights or candles within the grounds.
- Glass or ceramic vases, as they can become broken and cause a hazard.
- Memorials which could cause a trip hazard (please check with crematorium manager or staff).
- Plastics and unnatural items which could detract from the natural landscape of the area and could harm wildlife in the grounds.
Keeping the grounds safe
From time to time, broken or memorials not registered with us, may be removed. This is performed in order to keep the crematorium grounds, a special and safe place for visitors and especially, those scattered there.
Notices have been displayed in the grounds since September 2015 asking people to notify staff of the location of memorials, also informing visitors that any remaining memorials that are not yet registered by 30 September 2016, may be removed for safekeeping.
Susan Campion, bereavement services manager at the Isle of Wight Council, said:
“We understand how important it is for people to have a special place or memorial to remember their loved ones, which is why we wish to keep the grounds as natural as possible and not impinge on the other bereaved families memories or memorials.
“It is accepted that everyone is different and have many different ways of remembering those who are no longer with us. We are always pleased for fresh flowers to be brought along and placed in the grounds, or in the Book of Remembrance Room in addition to the placing of bird boxes.
“Staff at the crematorium are always happy to provide advice and guidance on the location and suitability of memorials to ensure that the respectful and dignified surroundings remain for all visitors and the loved ones they are remembering.”
Image: skatoolaki under CC BY 2.0
