Relatives 'gobsmacked' after grave mementos smashed
Relatives of people buried in a Nottinghamshire cemetery say they are 'gobsmacked' after wildlife were blamed for smashing mementos left on graves.
Families started a petition in protest after Broxtowe Borough Council said it was going to remove the mementos, which then led the authority to put any changes on hold for 12 months.
Visitors say they then found flowers, plant pots and crosses had been overturned last week and were told by the council ants, birds, badgers, foxes and muntjac deer were responsible.
But families have blamed council grass cutting, going so far as to stake out the cemetery to see whether animals were causing the problems.
Lindsey Collins, 46, from Beeston, whose son, Josh, was buried in the cemetery in 2021, said the problems were noticed on Tuesday 10 June.
She said: "The gardeners had been in and after mowing, several graves with pots, ornaments and memorials were damaged.
"In all the years we have been in the cemetery this has never happened before.
"The odd breakage is to be expected, but this damage was over several sections and areas of the cemetery.
"I was disgusted, heartbroken. And with Father's Day coming up I was worried how it was going to affect people."
Ms Collins estimated around 20 plots were affected with other visitors visibly distressed.
But this turned into surprise when Broxtowe Borough Council denied its gardeners were responsible.
"They said it was ants," said Ms Collins. "They said the ants were nesting in the tubs and then birds were coming to peck at them and then knocking the vases which then get caught in the long grass and get mowed.
"Then apparently badgers, foxes and muntjac deer also knocked over the ornaments.
"We were gobsmacked.
"So the cemetery committee staked out the area overnight and we never saw any activity from the animals which might explain what happened."
A spokesman for Broxtowe Borough Council said: "We have an experienced team that understands the sensitivities of working within our graveyards.
"All items are placed at the owner's risk."
The wider issue of leaving tributes on graves was discussed by the council earlier this month but a decision was deferred.
Follow BBC Nottingham on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.
Families 'disheartened' by proposed grave rules
Broxtowe Borough Council
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Girls' school welcomes backtrack on admitting boys
A girls' school in West Sussex said it was pleased council staff "recognise the concerns raised" about a consultation on it becoming co-educational. West Sussex County Council opened a fresh consultation on Thursday about a proposal to admit boys to Millais School in Horsham from 2026. The local authority decided in March to make the change after a previous consultation, despite the school's board opposing the reform. The council abandoned that decision three months later, saying it "concluded that information linked to the consultation was incorrect and misleading". Millais School's headteacher Alison Lodwick said she welcomes the "opportunity for all points of view to be resubmitted and reviewed fully". "Similarly to West Sussex [County Council], Millais want the best educational outcomes for the for young people across our local community," she added. Anyone who wants to give their views has until 18 July to do so. West Sussex County Council said on the consultation website that it "will consider or re-consider all responses and representations, including views previously expressed". The local authority added: "We have acted promptly to concerns raised about the previous process and want to make sure there is time for everyone to respond before the end of the current school year." A cabinet member could make the decision as soon as the end of July but this "will depend upon the responses received", according to the council. Millais School published a policy paper in May 2024 opposing the reform, in which it claimed there were "huge social and emotional benefits" for pupils at girls' schools and the council was proposing a "very major change" to the school's ethos. "We believe passionately that there is crucial space in Horsham for both coeducational and single-sex options to co-exist," the secondary school added. According to the June consultation, Millais School has had excess capacity since 2021, impacting its budget, while some boys in Horsham were sent to schools outside the district. "The pressure for places is likely to increase in the future," the council said. Millais School is the only single-sex school of the four secondaries in Horsham. The Forest School in Horsham was a boys school until West Sussex County Council decided in 2020 to make it co-educational. Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Girls' school to accept boys for the first time Pupils could miss out on requested schools Millais School West Sussex County Council
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Scorching heat: monkey enjoys a dip in the hotel pool
In the Chinese province of Hainan, a macaque had had enough of the heat. Curious, the monkey approached a swimming pool and then took a relaxing dip.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Black Bear spotted around Huntsville, officials provide tips on what to do if you spot one
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — This week, Huntsville residents have reported seeing a black bear roaming around the area. One sighting was reported near the Marina Park neighborhood in Huntsville. Another location where a black bear was seen was at Redstone Arsenal. News 19 reached out to Alabama Wildlife & Freshwater Fisheries Division to get more information surrounding public interaction with black bears. Bears can be seen anywhere in Alabama – especially this time of year. It is normal and expected to have bear sightings. Black bears are There is no reason to capture the bears, they are a natural part of Alabama's wildlife landscape. There have not been any reports of public safety concerns. A bear that is behaving normally is not a threat to public safety. Alabama Wildlife & Freshwater Fisheries Division However, the division did inform News 19 of some things landowners can do to prevent conflicts with black bears and ensure that they don't linger around. According to the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies, black bears have some sort of routine in the month of June: Cubs will leave their mom and search for food Cubs will shelter in a place of their own Adult males travel to look for mates Nursing moms travel farther away from their home base to find food Cubs keep growing and developing Officials say never feed or approach a bear and make sure to secure outside items like food or garbage that might attract a bear. To see a list of tips on how to handle black bear sightings, click here. The Huntsville Police Department told News 19 that their department has also received calls for the reported bear sightings. However authorities are re-directing all questions to the Alabama Department of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
