Grieving families have expressed outrage after an environmental campaigner removed hundreds of memorial ribbons from a yew tree at Knowlton Church in Dorset, describing the act as 'disrespectful' and a 'violation'. Teila Verch Dywenys, who describes herself as a witch and tarot reader, posted videos online showing her cutting down and discarding the ribbons, which she claimed were made of plastic and non-biodegradable materials.
Environmental Concerns vs. Emotional Tributes
Ms Dywenys is the founder of The Cleaner Clootie Campaign, which aims to prevent the leaving of non-biodegradable materials that can harm the environment and pose risks to wildlife. She stated that she had been alerted to the 'burdened' tree at Knowlton, a site she described as 'holy' and 'sacred', and spent several hours removing the ribbons. According to her, the ribbons weighed approximately 10kg and were largely composed of plastics and polyester.
However, the removal has deeply upset families who used the tree as a place of remembrance. Kelly Kennard, whose 18-year-old daughter Laionie died in a car crash in 2023, said the act felt like a violation. 'These items are not decorations or litter. They are heartfelt tributes left by grieving families, each one carrying deep personal meaning and love,' she said. She noted that among the items removed were ribbons placed by her young daughter in memory of her sister.
Community Reaction
Another bereaved mother, who wished to remain anonymous, described herself as 'heartbroken' and condemned the removal as 'heartless disrespect'. She emphasised that families have been leaving tributes at the tree for over 50 years, finding solace in the practice. Ms Dywenys later issued an apology, stating she was unaware that the tree was used specifically for bereavement tributes and acknowledging the hurt caused. She explained that the site is not a designated remembrance garden and needs to be maintained as a wild space.
Knowlton Church, a 12th-century Norman church set within a Neolithic henge, is managed by English Heritage. A spokesperson for the charity said they are happy to see the site at the heart of the community and recognise the significance of the mementoes for local people, but noted that not all share the same views about the spontaneous memorials.
Ms Dywenys has recommended alternative ways to honour loved ones at the site, such as leaving flowers, singing, reading poems, or simply sitting with family and friends, which she says are harmless and do not harm the environment.
