WIBU to clear this up ( poss trigger for teen suicide)

[Hoppinggreen]

Tragically a teenager took his own life in our area last year. I didn’t know him or his family but learnt about it through local media and neighbors. His family placed a memeorial bench at a local beauty spot near our ( and their) house and occasionally you see teens ( probably his friends) sitting there and at Christmas someone wrapped it in tinsel. No issue with any of that, I think it’s lovely that people who knew him remember him.
Recently it wouid have been his 18th birthday and a few days ago a large group of his friends gathered there for a vigil, which again I think is very touching
Now the tricky bit - they have left balloons and banners of various types tied to the bench and nearby trees, including helium filled foil ones. It does look messy but that’s what the kids wanted to do to remember their friend so that’s fine for now but this is in the middle of a beauty spot with quit a lot of wildlife living there. We have badgers, foxes, rare birds squirrels and plenty more and I’m a bit concerned about what will happen as time goes on
Almost a week has passed and it’s all still there and I’m not sure that anyone will be coming to remove it and if I was his family I might not want to either but if it’s still there in another week or so would it be really awful to take the balloons down? I’ve already fished one out of the river and with the high winds they will end up all over the place but I wouldn’t want to upset anyone.
This area backs onto my garden and I walk the dog there at least once a day so I can see it, I’m not going out of my way to see it. We do a community clear up once a year ( not due for months)
So what, if anything should I do? Leave it there to possibly be a danger to the wildlife or ignore it?
Genuinely asking for opinions as I don’t know, that last thing I would want would be to upset grieving parents/friends

Ooh, what a delicate situation. I think perhaps for now, just check that all balloons etc are securely tied when you walk past, since the main danger to wildlife will be when they are loose. Once the balloons deflate, I would think it's ok to take them down. The helium ones usually deflate quite quickly but the normal latex ones seem to last for ages nowadays! And then once the balloons have all deflated and been removed, then I suppose take the banners down, but perhaps you could pin a note up first, explaining your intentions, so the boy's family and friends can take them if they want them.

Maybe take the dangerous pieces down and leave flowers or fir cones or something else natural in their place?

I think it would be ok to tidy up if you left something in return, like some flowers or candles. Without a gesture, it might be upsetting for the family. But with a gesture, it would show that you did it out of caring rather than because you thought it looked untidy.

But I wouldn't change anything too much. Maybe if you can put a brick on anything loose so they have the option to take it away too?

A clean-up of the bench then leaving flowers would be a lovely compromise.

If you walk the dog there can you perhaps move one thing at a time? So it's a gradual process and looks more natural iyswim.

I came on to suggest flowers and a note, like False Priest.

Oh this is a tough one.

I think perhaps wait until you have noticed the balloons have started to deflate and its looking a bit forlorn, then take it down, bag it up and drop it to his parents, saying you thought they might want to keep some of the items but that it was all looking a bit droopy and sad so you wanted to clean his memorial bench up for them?

I think interfering with it in any way would be very insensitive and would suggest you leave it.

think it would be ok to tidy up if you left something in return, like some flowers or candles. Without a gesture, it might be upsetting for the family. But with a gesture, it would show that you did it out of caring rather than because you thought it looked untidy.

Excellent idea, for a very difficult situation.