Piles of wreaths, artificial flowers, sculptures and trinkets brought Shawna Goddard to tears.

B次元官网网址淲hen I just saw the trinkets and statues and flowers, it just broke my heart,B次元官网网址� she said sobbing. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just gut wrenching.B次元官网网址�

Throughout the Hatley Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Colwood, tokens and wreaths left on tombstones were removed by cemetery staff.

The piles of mementos upset Goddard, because of the sentimental value of items such as the coffee mug and a childB次元官网网址檚 Hot Wheels car that now sit beside the road. Among the piles was the wrought iron sculpture Goddard placed on her fathers grave nearly six years ago.

David Robert William Goddard was buried there in 2005 and his plot is visible from the road. Goddard noticed the sculpture missing and drove in to the cemetery where she saw the piles.

She said the statue has never moved.

Bruce Simpson, cemetery manager, said spring cleanup is an annual occurrence.

B次元官网网址淲e allow artificial flowers from November to March and then after that it is just real flowers,B次元官网网址� he explained, adding they are left in piles for loved ones to collect.

Each year Simpson said he receives one or two phone calls from angry people about this, he said next year he will try and provide the families more notice.

The cleanup is to allow the grounds workers to cut the grass and maintain the cemetery grounds. Simpson said it is standard protocol in the 41 cemeteries across Canada that the company runs.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 written in out rules and regulations and on the contract people sign,B次元官网网址� he explained.

B次元官网网址淚 am concerned for the people who donB次元官网网址檛 know this is happening,B次元官网网址� Goddard said.  B次元官网网址淲hen someone dies you donB次元官网网址檛 read the fine print.B次元官网网址�

The items will be left out until the end of March for people to collect.