No shrubs, plants or flowers may be planted in the Cemetery. The Council reserves the right to prune, cut down or dig up and remove any shrub, plant or flowers planted without authorisation or which in their opinion has become unsightly or overgrown. Such planting often causes problems by encroaching on neighbouring grave spaces and many plants, due to the depth of the roots, cause significant difficulties in reopening the grave for future interments. Floral decorations may be placed on any grave. when these are seen to be decaying the Council reserves the right to remove or dispose of them if the owner fails to do so.
In addition to the planting detailed above, the following items are not permitted in the Cemetery.
- Stones chippings etc as these may damage grass cutting equipment;
- Grave edge kerbs, kerb-sets or fencing of any kind around the graves as this prevents effective maintenance and can create a trip hazard to others;
- Any glass or porcelain vases or other items, as they shatter in frosty conditions and create a hazard to visitors and wildlife;
- Wind chimes, lights or any other mementos which will infringe on the peaceful tranquillity of the cemetery
- Any mementos which will deteriorate over time such as beer cans or soft toys
The Council reserves the right to remove, without notice, any receptacle for flowers, damaged wreaths, mementos, kerbing or fencing, etc that it considers unsuitable, or which are broken.
The Council reserves the right to:-
- Lay flat or make safe any memorial headstone that has been identified as unsafe.
- Remove any unauthorised memorial from a grave
- Remove any memorial, which they deem objectionable or of unauthorised type or size.
Holly Wreaths
At Christmas many holly wreaths are left on graves. Our ground staff will remove them 5 or 6 weeks after Christmas. If you wish to remove them yourself, please do so before 31 January.
Applications for Memorial Work
Permission is required from the Council before any memorial may be erected. Permission is also necessary for additional inscriptions to be inscribed.
Headstones and Memorials
The Council has a set of regulations relating to headstones and memorials in its cemetery and cremation area.
- Lawn Memorials no more than 3’6†high x 2’6 wide x 8†thick either on an appropriate base or fixed into the ground allowing sufficient depth to be safely fixed. Memorials should be fixed to BS8415 where practicable. Lawn memorials and bases to be a minimum of 3†thick, to allow sufficient surface area for fixing, unless fixed straight into ground when they can be a minimum of 2â€.
- Must be made of natural stone. No synthetic or resin-based memorials.
- Memorial tablets are 15†x 9†and are situated on the roundabout in the centre of the cemetery.
- No inscription is to be on the back of the memorial.
- No memorials to be placed between graves
- Memorials can have designs and carvings on them, but they must be relevant and reverent. No brightly coloured designs.
- The burial authority reserves the right to refuse to allow the placing of an inscription or design upon any memorial if, in the opinion of the burial authority, it is deemed to be libellous, inaccurate or likely to cause offence to any person or body of persons.
- Existing memorials do not set a precedent for new memorials
- All memorials must be fixed or re-fixed in accordance with the National Association of Memorial Masons (NAMM) Recommended Code of Working Practice and BS8415 where practicable.
- All work should be carried out by memorial masons qualified through NAMM or BRAMM with public liability insurance and risk assessments.
- All vases should be integral to the headstone or its base and the council recommends that flower containers are not made of glass or porcelain, as these materials will often crack due to water freezing during periods of cold weather. Similarly, some plastic materials become brittle due to prolonged exposure to sunlight. The Council reserves the right to remove any receptacle of flowers, damaged wreaths, mementos etc that it considers unsuitable, or which are broken, without notice. Additional ‘free standing’ / unattached plinths or non-fixed stonework etc will not be permitted.
- Memorials are private property owned by the next of kin. St Minver Parish Council is not responsible for vandalism, theft or damage to the memorial. The council advises that families insure memorials against accidental damage, vandalism and theft and recommends that cover should take effect immediately the stone is fixed in the cemetery or churchyard. The cost is very reasonable and usually insignificant when compared with the possible cost of repairs. Any memorial mason should have details of the schemes available.
Dangerous Memorials – where a memorial, headstone and is found to be in a dangerous or dilapidated condition immediate remedial action will be taken to hopefully eliminate any danger or potential danger. Initially it will be in the form of an inspection by an officer of the council or an authorised officer of its nominated contractor. For this particular purpose a detailed report on the condition of any such dangerous memorial(s)headstone(s)and kerb(s)followed by any action deemed necessary to prevent injury to the public or any employees. A copy of the report will be sent the owner of the rights of interment (where possible) either via a letter or a note attached to the memorial. The council reserves the right to do periodic inspections of the cemetery but will notify the public with signage and an advert in local newspaper. 8 7
Adopted by St Minver Cemetery Committee 19th October 2020