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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Ryan Thom

Mourning grandad met with 'weeds and mess' every time he visits stillborn grandson's Ayr Cemetery grave

A mourning Ayrshire granddad has hit out at the ‘neglect’ of the spot where his stillborn grandson is buried claiming it is the “worst it’s ever been.”

Scott Lawrie previously raised concerns to Ayrshire Live over the ‘tired’ and ‘depressing’ Butterfly Garden section at Ayr Cemetery.

But two years on the doting grandfather-of-seven says his stillborn grandson’s Flynn is so bad, it breaks his heart everyday he visits.

Scott claims the Butterfly Garden has been deteriorating for months and it took council teams until last week to finally start pulling out weeds.

The 65-year-old says overgrown plants and unsightly weeds have plagued the spot.

Scott claims his grandson's final resting place is a mess (Reach plc)

Scott’s daughter Stefany Lawrire tragically lost her baby boy Flynn in July 2019.

And the retired bakery worker has been left furious to see public areas of the town, brightened up with flowers, whilst the children’s section of the cemetery is just forgotten about.

Scott told Ayrshire Live: “It’s an absolute mess again. It’s the worst it has ever been.

"It's heartbreaking going up there every day to see it like that.

“It’s been lying like this since the end of the winter and the start of spring.

“Nothing has been done. You see the full town in bloom as the good weather hits but the Butterfly Garden is just left in such a state. It is total neglect.

Weeds are growing outside a centre piece of the Butterfly Garden (Reach plc)

“I do my best to keep Flynn’s grave bright and colourful. I’ve spent a lot of money looking after it.

“But it’s a constant battle to get the rest of the section looking the same. It should be spotless.

“It should be maintained to a higher standard than what it is."

Daughter Stefany, Flynn's mum added: "Its a sorry state for my boy's final resting place its tough enough going up never mind the poor upkeep.

"It makes me want to cry every time I see the state of the place."

Heartbroken Scott visits his grandson's grave everyday (Reach plc)

Council chiefs have promised they will work to “enhance the garden” and “provide colour”.

Grounds teams are set to add in summer bedding plants and remove shrubs as well as spray weeds.

But Scott believes it is too little too late and adds it should have been prioritised.

Shrubs are overgrown (Reach plc)

Scott added: “By the time they have fixed it will be winter again. It's been left for months without any attention given to it.

"It should be priority or at least a bit further up the list. It's meant to be a place of rest."

A council spokesperson said: “Further works have been scheduled for the Butterfly Garden.

Scott has pointed out the bright and colourful flower displays in the town centre (Reach plc)

“These include additional summer bedding plants and the removal of shrubs, which is due to start on Monday, June 19.

“The shrub area will be replaced with summer and autumn bedding plants to enhance the garden and provide colour.

“Weed spraying has been carried out in the area and there will be a visible difference in the next week.”

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