Crematorium Memorial Bird Boxes

Avian themes are replete in modern memorial practices and seemingly they have a special place in the commemoration of the cremated dead in our contemporary world. I addressed dimensions of this in relation to cemeteries, but also gardens of remembrance at crematoria in previous posts, including environments which foster avian presences – woodlands, lawns and bodies of water – as well as specific material cultures – dovecotes and bird baths. Avian motifs are a common element on gravestones and ornaments placed on graves.

One element I haven’t addressed before are actual bird boxes fixed to trees within gardens of remembrance. I saw these this year at Landican Cemetery and Crematorium, Wirral. These bird boxes are positioned without attention to isolated locations to prioritise fostering breeding birds.

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Instead, they are not only tightly clustered together, situated within the busiest location at the centre of the crematorium gardens as one element in an arrangement of kerb-side memorial plaques in the crematorium gardens.

Representing birds and encouraging birdlife constitutes a versatile set of memorial themes in contemporary mortuary commemoration. What remains unclear is whether the examples like this are exceptional or commonplace. Any further examples are very welcome!