Children's gardens damaged at Durrington Cemetery: Council apologises to distressed families

Worthing mum, Gemma Whittington, visited the cemetery in Findon Road on Mothering Sunday (March 19) to be with her late son, Logan, who was stillborn in 2017. But she said the moment was ruined for her when she discovered significant damage had been caused to Logan’s and ‘other precious babies’ gardens’.

"The complete lack of care by the grounds maintenance team this past week has been so shocking,” Gemma wrote on Facebook on Monday. “The damage they caused is extremely distressing. I'm angry and hurting today.”

Gemma said some damage was expected after maintenance work by the council, adding: “The wind carries the grass and they can’t do much about that.”

But ‘this time, there was more damage than usual’, she said.

Gemma added: “I was distressed enough as it is, especially when you’re going on Mother’s Day because your baby is there.

"My son’s plot has got off lightly. We plant some daffodils every year and they’ve been completely destroyed.

"But a friend’s son’s plaque has been cut in half. The plaque was on my son’s plot. The fencing has been marked with the strimmers and it had taken off paintwork.

"There’s other bits of damage up there. Solar lights were knocked with the strimmers and wires were damaged.

"I ended up ringing the council on Monday to speak to them, make them aware and start the complaint process.”

Worthing Borough Council has since issued a statement.

A council spokesperson told SussexWorld: “Firstly, we would like to offer our sincere apologies for any upset and distress that has been caused.