Personalising a grave space

The installation of kerbs, fences, edging stones and other surrounds around the whole of the grave space can create significant difficulties in gaining access to neighbouring graves for funeral mourners, coffin-bearers and other cemetery visitors. Such items can also restrict grave-digging and general maintenance by our cemeteries staff.

Similarly, the placement of smaller personal items, or planting outside the agreed area can lead to the same difficulties.

If such items are placed, then we will contact you if:

• the items prevent or restrict access for grave-digging or funeral attendance
• the items encroach upon or affect a neighbouring grave
• we have received a complaint about the items

If the need to access a grave is urgent, because of a forthcoming funeral, we will ask you to remove the items as soon as possible. If we are unable to make contact, then we will need to carefully remove the items ourselves.

If the situation is less urgent, then we may write to you and invite you to attend on-site to discuss matters with a member of our staff, and to reach agreement upon a reduction of your personalisation, to a level which does not cause a problem.