Memorial Benches in Parks Are Out of Control

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e is that over the last few years, a new trend has started of attaching flowers, or teddy bears or other objects like photo frames to the benches — most likely in remembrance on that loved one’s birthday or the date that they passed away.I have never seen this in action (only the evidence), but I imagine that the family gathers, says a few words, attaches their items to the bench and move on.<figure id="5cbe"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/0*wEEjIuFZy-4dq1VY"><figcaption>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@artsyvibes?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral">Artsy Vibes</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure>I appreciate the desire to want to commemorate someone’s life, but the real problem for me is that they don’t come back to collect the stuff they’ve left.At least half of the benches in my local park now have dead bunches of flowers attached to them, or, worse, crappy plastic ones that the birds try and eat, or teddy bears that were onc

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e clean and bright but that are now wet and soggy after multiple rainy days.Now, no one wants to sit on those benches, which sort of defeats the purpose of having a bench.This is firstly because it feels like you are intruding on someone else’s space, or their memory, and secondly because the stuff that has been left now looks disgusting, and might even be rotting away in places.Basically people are leaving rubbish behind in the name of “commemorating”. It’s an eyesore and it’s dangerous for wildlife.No one else wants to clean it up the objects for fear of offending that family or seeming unsympathetic. So it just sits and rots.If you’ve done this, or you’re thinking of doing it, please spare a thought for the long term. Either go back a week later and remove the items you’ve left, or find a different way to commemorate.Maybe you could have a picnic on the bench with your family (and take all your rubbish with you), or tell stories on the bench of your loved family member instead.</article></body>

It’s enough to have the bench, there’s no need to add anything else

I walk in my local park most days. It’s a beautiful park and there are plenty of benches where you can take a seat and admire the view.

Most of these benches have been donated by families who had a family member who loved to walk in the park, and each bench has a small plaque dedicated to the person who passed away.

I like the benches, and I often read the inscriptions on them. I think it’s a lovely idea to donate a bench to a park to give someone else the opportunity to enjoy the same scenery as a loved family member once did.

My issue is that over the last few years, a new trend has started of attaching flowers, or teddy bears or other objects like photo frames to the benches — most likely in remembrance on that loved one’s birthday or the date that they passed away.

I have never seen this in action (only the evidence), but I imagine that the family gathers, says a few words, attaches their items to the bench and move on.

I appreciate the desire to want to commemorate someone’s life, but the real problem for me is that they don’t come back to collect the stuff they’ve left.

At least half of the benches in my local park now have dead bunches of flowers attached to them, or, worse, crappy plastic ones that the birds try and eat, or teddy bears that were once clean and bright but that are now wet and soggy after multiple rainy days.

Now, no one wants to sit on those benches, which sort of defeats the purpose of having a bench.

This is firstly because it feels like you are intruding on someone else’s space, or their memory, and secondly because the stuff that has been left now looks disgusting, and might even be rotting away in places.

Basically people are leaving rubbish behind in the name of “commemorating”. It’s an eyesore and it’s dangerous for wildlife.

No one else wants to clean it up the objects for fear of offending that family or seeming unsympathetic. So it just sits and rots.

If you’ve done this, or you’re thinking of doing it, please spare a thought for the long term. Either go back a week later and remove the items you’ve left, or find a different way to commemorate.

Maybe you could have a picnic on the bench with your family (and take all your rubbish with you), or tell stories on the bench of your loved family member instead.