A MITTAGONG man has been left devastated after Wingecarribee Shire Council officers removed the flowers he planted on his wife's grave at Welby cemetery.

Rex Blatch planted the flowers there four years ago when his wife passed away and ever since then he has looked after the plot, which included mowing it on a regular basis.

When Mr Blatch initially planted the flowers he assumed there was no problem because in the same complex there was a shrine built up on one of the graves.

"This is the first time that I have heard about the council having any sort of problem with it," Mr Blatch said.

"They phoned me up and the only explanation that they would give me is that it was against the council's policy."

When Mr Blatch asked if he could plant the grass there himself, he said the council said no and two days later cleared the plot.

"Dad was devastated because he felt it was the only thing left that he could do for mum," Mr Blatch's son, Karl, said.

"What I cannot understand is why the council haven't given dad an clear explanation as to why he cannot continue with the upkeep of mum's grave."

The only explanation that Council's general manager, David McGowan, would give was that it was council policy to remove the plants.

"As this is a sensitive issue we are dealing with, we let Mr Blatch run with it for a number of years," Mr McGowan said.

"Throughout that time members of the community have raised the question 'he has done it so why can't we?'

"And it is because of this we have had to say no to everyone because it is against council policy."

Mr McGowan said the council has been dealing with this situation with reasonable sensitivity and has shown much compassion towards Mr Blatch.

"It doesn't stop this lack of understanding as to why the council could do this to an individual," Karl Blatch said.

"For mum it was all about the flowers and the fairies and dad continued to give that to her even after she had gone. Now he can't and there is nothing right about it."