A grieving mother has rejected Birmingham City Council's explanation that wildlife was responsible for damage to graves at Witton Cemetery, including the plot of her stillborn daughter. Jenny Powell, 37, from Erdington, discovered the damage on Tuesday, August 18, when she visited the cemetery to lay flowers.
Damage discovered at baby's grave
Mrs Powell said she burst into tears when she found the plaque on her daughter's grave was missing, planters were smashed and the head had been torn off a teddy bear. She described seeing crosses kicked off multiple graves, plant pots kicked over, fences kicked in, and flower pots fixed to headstones pulled out. Flowers were tossed around and crosses were torn out of the ground across several graves.
She said: "I saw crosses kicked off multiple graves, plant pots that had been kicked. Fences had been kicked off graves. They had taken the head off a teddy bear. The flower pots fixed to headstones had been pulled out. My daughter's grave is the fourth from the tree and the plant pots and her name were missing. Why do this to the most purest, the most innocent of graves?"
Council investigation and response
Birmingham City Council said it had investigated the matter and reviewed CCTV footage. A spokesperson said the Bereavement Services team carried out a full review, including examining footage recorded by wildlife cameras installed within Witton Cemetery. The council stated: "After viewing the available footage, no evidence was found to suggest any interference or deliberate damage by visitors, staff, contractors or any other individuals – the only activity recorded was of local wildlife."
The spokesperson added: "We acknowledge and understand how distressing it can be to find items disturbed when visiting loved ones' memorials in our cemeteries. Any such complaints are taken seriously and thoroughly investigated. Visitors are reminded that they are welcome to place items on the designated area on a grave or memorial but they are left entirely at their risk. We are committed to ensuring Witton Cemetery is a dignified and respectful environment for all visitors, and we will continue to monitor the area as part of our routine site management."
Mother disputes wildlife theory
Mrs Powell rejected the council's explanation, saying: "I don't believe it at all. How did nearly every grave have something missing or damaged? I'd like to know how an animal broke half the glass on one grave and scatter glass around."
She informed an on-site council maintenance man who, she said, had "tears in his eyes" when he surveyed the scene. Mrs Powell, her two children and well-wishers spent hours on Wednesday cleaning up the damage.
