Families' special memorial trees to be chopped down at Crownhill Crematorium in Milton Keynes

Dozens of memorial trees paid for by grieving families are being given the chop at Crownhill Crematorium.

Mourners were shocked this week to see council workers put notices on every other tree near the crematorium's scenic Rose Garden area.

The notice states: "This tree is no longer a memorial tree' and urges people to remove the special plaques bearing their loved ones' names'.

The families have all paid MK Council an annual sum for the privilege of 'owning' a memorial tree, and many are now furious that 'their' tree will be chopped down without even consulting them.

One relative said: "The council should send out emails as the family pay for upkeep and plaques, etc. They have not kept my family informed over years."

Another said: "It's out off order. We pay yearly for trees and plaques."

A spokesman for Milton Keynes Council told the Citizen: "We’re carrying out essential tree maintenance to ensure the future health of trees in a small area of the crematorium grounds. This only includes trees no longer memorialised."

He added: "The trees we’re considering working on had previously been memorial trees up until two years ago, at which point we stopped accepting any new bookings or renewals. We’ve been speaking with the owners of the memorial trees and are encouraging anyone who has placed items there to relocate them to a suitable place.

The felling is due to start on March 31.

If anybody has paid for a memorial tree in the past and needs to check whether it will be chopped down, they should call on 01908 568112,