The trend of spreading the ashes of loved ones on top of mountains is upsetting the ecological balance of hilltops.

“These areas are acidic, they are impoverished and they have very small amounts of minerals such as calcium. They are also very wet, and in an environment such as that the ash is providing you are getting luxuriant growth.

“I realise this is a very sensitive and private matter and I would never tell people not to do this, but it is going to have a lasting impact on a wild mountain landscape.

“Perhaps people would think about scattering ashes lower down a mountain on grass, around a tree, or into a corrie where it will have less visual impact.”

Technorati tag: Mountains, Cremation