How about scattering or biting them in your back garden and planting a rose or a tree over?
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Should I just scatter the ashes anyway?
(173 Posts)My mother’s ashes have been here since she died at 97 in 2015 - my father died long before and until recently my brother had kept his ashes, but a few months ago he brought them here.
One other sibling lives in the US and doesn’t mind what we do with them. Nor does the one who’s kept DF’s for ages.
The other (who lives a long drive away and is unlikely to travel far for the foreseeable because her dh is frail) has never been able to agree on Where, and the suggestions she has made are simply not practical.
I’ve got a good mind to go and scatter them together, in a nearby woodland garden that is never likely to be built on, since it’s within a Royal Park.
Strictly not allowed, I know, but if I go late evening nobody’s likely to see anyway, and I’d find somewhere in the midst of dense shrubbery (of which there is masses) not just anywhere.
It’s surely time?? I’m fed up with asking eldest sibling what she thinks, only to end up (again) with no practical suggestion.
We’re all aged 69 to 79 so if we don’t do something soon…
Burying not biting!
They don’t fertilise the roses. They really don’t. See above.
I can see Im going to have to let this one go.
Funnily enough I was only reading this morning how hard it is for people to let go of a mistaken belief, especially if the mistake accords with what they want to believe.
Oh I didn’t mean for fertilisation I just meant as remberance
If it is strictly not allowed why do you think it is ok for you to do it?
In these situations, I think ‘What if everyone breaks that law”, if it is not the right thing for everyone to do then it is not right for one person.
Why not put them in your own garden?
JaneJudge
Oh I didn’t mean for fertilisation I just meant as remberance
Sorry my comment was about the previous post, not yours🙂
other people have to walk through them.
a) why is this (walking through ashes on some sand or pebbles) seen as a problem? It's not going to harm anyone.
b) nobody has to walk through them. there is always a choice: walk through this bit of ash or don't.
Do what’s best for you.
I would caution you against your suggested plan, particularly as you yourself have admitted that it would be illegal to do so. This is not just an arbitrary ruling, as explained by : "Many people whose relatives have enjoyed visiting a Royal Park ask if their ashes can be scattered in the park after their deaths. These ashes contain minerals in such concentrations that they affect the soil and the plants that grow in the soil. This in turn can affect the wildlife that relies on the plants for food and shelter." I would therefore urge you to choose a less damaging option, perhaps on private land where the landowner would give you permission, or even in your own garden, where you are the landowner. The "own garden" option is preferred by many, myself included, as both the ashes and their associated memories then remain close to you on an everyday basis. .
Until you sell your house? Maybe the OP lives in a flat?
Why would you risk your relationship with your sibling over this?
I genuinely don't believe your mother would want that, or to be scattered in a place you are not legally allowed to do so.
The ashes are safe with you but they do not belong to you. Have a proper discussion about it with all your siblings, come to an agreement. Maybe use it as an opportunity to come together rather than pushing others away
witzend do it. We were in an almost identical situation for years for slightly different reasons. Eventually we just did it.
Btw a friend had a beach scattering after a desperately difficult few years, and took enormous comfort from it. (It was done when/where no-one was about.)
scattering-ashes.co.uk/general/cremation-ashes-chemicalcompostion/
Phosphate 47.5%
Calcium 25.3%
Sulfate 11.00%
Potassium3.69%
Sodium 1.12%
Chloride 1.00% etc
Expert Harry Boyter says
I would not eat it or snort it, but otherwise, except for high calcium and phosphate, you might think it was just high phosphate dirt without the carbon.
Lathyrus
Sorry about that Callistemon.
I was going to post the tale of my husband’s ashes but thought better of it!
I'm sure I'll be first to go so I had better specify what I want.
When I said at sea I didn't mean just a paddle, he means right out at sea.
The ashes are safe with you but they do not belong to you
That is interesting. No something I have ever thought of.
Message withdrawn at poster's request.
Bella23
Callistemon21
www.col.co.uk/help-advice/scattering-ashes-6-common-questions-answered
DH wants his taken out to sea but I know the wind will change direction at the last minute.I'm with you Callistemon on this one.
My godfather's ashes were tipped into the sea, it was a windy day the sea was rough and they all got a mouthful of him/or his ashes. My DH wants to go to the top of a fell well if I'm still here I won't be with him.
In our village churchyard, we have a special plot for ashes to be scattered. Beside it is a substantial flat sandstone slab where names can be engraved.
I have heard so many tales of sneaking into cemeteries or picnicking at a beauty spot and someone scattering ashes that they are pepper and salt on your food.
My best friend left her loved one at the Crem and they fertilise the roses a lovely idea.
Bella23 I've just done some research and found out what and how it is possible and shown DH.
Now he's getting twitchy!
The reason I don’t want to bury them in the garden is that our garden is very small anyway, and I dare say any future owner of the house - which will probably not be in the very distant future, give that dh and I are both already mid 70s - will very likely pave it over, or install decking. Most of the neighbours’ gardens are one or the other.
Whereas the woodland garden mentioned in my OP, is within a Royal Park, so likely to be safe for a long time (barring a major revolution of course, and the entire 2000 acres being seized and flogged off to developers.).
Why would decking being installed over a place in a garden where ashes of humans were buried be unsafe?
Do ashes of humans need to be "safe"? I thought the whole idea was that one could chuck them about somewhere, you know, scatter them in the wind like the star dust they are.
Exactly Baggs that how I thought of it
But still illegal...
Most crematoria have 'gardens of remembrance' where ashes can be scattered either by yourself of by a member of staff. They would not be disturbed there.
Do what you feel is right. People have been scattering ashes all over the place for years and no-one's any the wiser! People have them scattered at their loved one's favourite football ground, for instance. Jeez, people even have ashes incorporated into tattoos! There's always got to be someone who pours cold water over anything on here.
There's some very strange, revealing comments here - such a disappointment. Many say 'Go ahead, do what you want - as long as nobody sees it - break the law.'
Here, we have the typical village green, church and pond - right next to a busy road and shops - at the top of a hill. The churchyard was full long ago.
Upon finding that they can't put ashes there, people scatter them on the green, causing regular annoyance and complaints. Dusty cars and shop windows, irritated eyes and lungs - but never mind, do exactly what you want - just don't buy any unwrapped food here! Remains put outside the churchyard used to be the final humiliation for criminals - and the poor.
That handful of ashes and finely ground bones (oh, yes, they have to grind some bones) is often referred to by a person's name (Mum, Dad, etc.) - just very, very weird. It's like they didn't die at all. The popular words that avoid death too - like 'passed' all seem an acceptable collective madness or denial?
People are so odd, aren't they? Alongside the current discussion on 'principles' too!
I have only seen two sets of 'ashes'.
In both cases they were like fine gravel, nothing like ash at all.
(They were from different crematoriums in different counties). We paid a small fee and they were put in the churchyard memorial garden.
They wouldn't have blown away in any wind as they do on TV.
Am I the only person who doesn't feel any attachment to a deceased person's ashes? My parents' ashes were left at the crematorium (with my brother's agreement)and I couldn't care less what happens to mine
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