MARLDON PARISH COUNCIL
RULES AND REGULATIONS
GARDEN OF REST
The Garden of Rest is situated behind the Graveyard attaching to the beautiful
St John Baptist Church in Marldon. It was created in 2025 by the Parish Council as place
of quiet reflection and calm to serve the Community and also to provide a fitting location for the Burial of ashes of those with a close connection to the Parish .
The ground has not been consecrated and is open to all faiths and beliefs.
Individual plots may be blessed by private arrangement.
This garden of rest is open only to people with a proven connection to Marldon ,
Westerland & Compton i.e. born or died here, lived in village, have immediate family who live here or have family already in the old graveyard or going forward, a family member in the new Garden of Rest.
There are , however , some regulations which the Parish Council hopes will ensure that
the area remains a facility for respectful enjoyment by all
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1.The Garden is open from dawn to dusk – with no access after dark. Access may be restricted at certain times when essential works or maintenance is carried out . Children under the age of 14 are welcome in the burial grounds but must be supervised by a responsible adult.
2. Dogs are permitted in the Garden but must be kept on a lead and under control at all times . Any waste MUST be picked up and taken away.
3. No vehicles are allowed on site ( other than those of contractors authorised by the Parish Council ) . There is no car parking available – we would ask that you park considerately in the Village.
4. The Parish Council asks there is no drinking or smoking in the garden and that no glass is brought in to the area . It also requests that the area is used in a respectful manner – especially when a burial of ashes is taking place.
5. The area will be maintained by the Parish Council with some areas dedicated to wildflowers No additional planting of trees , shrubs or bulbs is allowed and no areas should be cut or trimmed by third parties.
6. Bicycles, skate boards or similar equipment may not be ridden in the Garden.
7. Burials are permitted between the hours of 9 – 3pm , Monday to Saturday – no Public holidays. No fires / fire pits / Fireworks / Chinese lanterns or Balloons are allowed.
8. The scattering of Ashes is not allowed.
9. Flowers without wrappers and biodegradable wreaths are permitted – these may be removed for Grass cutting . A compost area ( restricted to flowers from Memorials/ grass cuttings and light trimmings from the garden ) will be provided.
10. No ornaments/mementos , vases or plastic items allowed in any area.
11. Memorial plaques to be of natural material ( stone) laid flat, uniform size 300 x 450 mm , supplied and paid for by families. Wording to be approved prior to Installation . No flower holders will be permitted in the plaques There will be no fences /kerbstones or posts allowed Blank stones are permitted – All plots must bear a stone Please allow ground to settle / or ensure thorough compaction of plot before setting the stone
Memorial stones must be installed within six months from the date of interment.
12. Plots to be 500x500mm with memorial stones 300x450mm with the Family responsible For the cost of digging plot, memorial stone and any other related costs.
13. All ashes to be buried in a Bio-degradable caskets only, maximum size 30.5cm x 22.8cm,
14. Children’s ashes will be accepted free of charge The families to cover costs of plot digging and memorial stones.
15. No grave is to be dug, or reopened, more than 48 hours before a funeral takes place. A grave should not be dug and left open over the weekend. The Plots should be prepared by a competent and suitably insured person – the Public Liability insurance to be checked by the Parish Council in advance . The Parish Council can supply contact details if required.
Administration
16. No interment of cremated remains, may take place without the Clerk to the Council having received a disposal document for the interment of cremated remains, at least 48 hours prior to the burial.
17. The purchase of a plot in advance of its need is permitted but plots can not be allocated until the burial of ashes is required – except in the case of the 2nd burial plot where side by side ( double ) plots were purchased in advance. An application has to be submitted to the Parish Council to purchase a cremation plot. You will then be issued with an exclusive right of burial deed, which entitles the owner or a person of their choice to be buried in the plot. A plot may be purchased for memorial purposes without the burial of ashes.
18. All fees and charges will be in accordance with the schedule of Prices and must be paid in advance . The Parish Council reserves the right to review the charges on an annual basis.
19. When purchasing a plot, what is actually being acquired is the Grant of the Right of Burial, (Local Government Act 1972, Section 214[3]) only. Buying a plot does not give you ownership of the land the plot lies on, or any other rights thereof.
20. More than one casket may be interned in a shared depth plot, this arrangement to be made at the time of interning the original ashes. If this requires reopening the plot the family will be responsible for all associated costs of digging and reinstatement.
Grave Rights
21. A Grant of Exclusive Right of Burial (EROB) may be purchased at any time. An Exclusive Right of Burial is currently granted for a period not exceeding 100 years from the date of purchase.
A deed for the EROB will be issued to the purchaser/s of the grave upon payment of the appropriate fee. The Parish Council’s records contain the details of the registered grave owners; however, it is important that the grave owners keep safe their Exclusive Right of Burial Deed. Possession of the Deed does not in its self signify ownership of the Exclusive Rights. When an interment is not that of the Deed holder, consent in writing from the Deed holder(s) is required on the Application of Interment form prior to the interment taking place. Ownership of the Exclusive Right of Burial can be transferred either during the owner’s lifetime or after their death. Transfer of the Exclusive Right of Burial from the living owner(s) to another individual(s) is done so upon completion of an Assignment Form for a nominal fee The Exclusive Right of Burial may be transferred on the death of the registered owner to the person or persons entitled to it. In order to establish grave ownership, the person or persons wishing to take up ownership must be able to produce a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration. If these legal documents have not been applied or issued, then ownership may be transferred to the executor by Statutory Declaration. A transferred Exclusive Right of Burial is only valid if it has been registered and acknowledged by the Parish Council.
22. It is the responsibility of the grave owner to notify the Council of any change of address.
23. In the event of a purchased grave being unused , no refund will be given
24. In the event that the Parish Council ceases to exist , the management and Maintenance of the Garden of Rest will pass to a suitable authority Marldon Parish Council reserves the right to amend these regulations – and will review at Regular intervals . Any complaints or observations can be reported to the Parish Clerk.
Pets Memorial area
25. A dedicated corner for pet memorial plaques to be established, separate from human plots, at far end of field. Pet memorial plaques to be of stone, measuring up to half the size of human plaques i.e. 150 x 225. No pet ashes to be buried or scattered in this area in accordance with Environment Agency Guidelines. Cost will be 50% of a human plot
Marldon Garden Of Rest 