After a funeral service we cover the grave with earth and place any flowers and wreaths on top. We usually leave these in place for a month before we remove them, but might need to do this earlier if the weather is bad.

A permanent memorial can be put in place after six months, when the earth has had time to settle. You do not have to wait six months to apply for memorial rights.

You can place the following temporary tributes on the grave:

• a wooden cross (up to 500mm or 18 inches)
• flowers in a non-breakable container

Please don't use glass, pottery or thin plastic containers until a memorial has been fixed, and please don't plant anything directly into the soil.

A memorial for a cremation plot may be erected any time following the burial of ashes.