Hundreds of Victorians have been left "heartbroken" to learn they will have to strip their loved ones' graves of decorations as a policy affecting several cemeteries is suddenly enforced.

For years, Bendigo Cemetery has radiated colour and love at all hours of the day, decorated with colourful lights, windchimes, flowers, vases, ornaments and trinkets.

Visitors want their loved ones in the cemetery to feel cherished, celebrated and to be included in their celebrations on special occasions, such as Christmas.

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"It really is a beautiful sight and it's comforting having the knowledge that our loved ones are not being left in the dark," regular visitor Pauline Burns explained.

But the not-for-profit organisation which runs the cemetery, Remembrance Parks Central Victoria, as well as cemeteries in Eaglehawk, Kangaroo Flat and nine other locations, has recently decided to "consistently" enforce its adornment policy after "receiving a lot of complaints".

The policy, which it says has been around for years, states ceramic vases and items, solar lights, photo frames and pebbles are banned, while objects are not allowed to be placed outside of grave areas, including on surrounding trees or shrubs, or encroach on other graves.

Signs were posted around Bendigo and Eaglehawk cemeteries last month to say items that are not in line with the policy must be removed by February 5.

Burns said the sudden decision had shocked and distressed hundreds, potentially thousands, of mourners, adding to their grief.

"It's just killing people," she told 9News.

"A lot of them are really, really upset."

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