Modern memorials are made of foreign stone and the beautiful local sandstones are rarely used. Only a few stones each year are hand carved, most being produced by computer controlled sand blasting. The development of local sculptors using local stone would be worth promoting. These small plants are composed of a fungus and an algae, and look beautiful under a hand lens. They are disappearing throughout Europe, but grow moderately well in the clean air of Carlisle.
Lichens grow on soil, trees and memorials.
It is important that memorials are not moved, as the lichens often die in new positions. Rabbits routinely eat the flowers neatly around the edge of wreaths left at funerals. They also nip off 'pot mums' leaving a neat stub. This leaves the plant looking as if a gardener had clipped the plant with a pair of shears. Carrion crows pull flowers out of vases in order to drink water.