Eco-funeral/burial/cemetery, Natural burial/cemetery

Alfie_E

I’d really like all and any information that MSEers have on this. There’s a chance I might need it promptly, to help me follow a relative’s wishes. I found an article entitled Why dad's eco-funeral went horribly wrong, which is “interesting”. Funeral Search give an idea for coffin. So, we’re not talking “eco-pod”, where your loved one is placed into the ground looking like a bright red broad bean pod.

An actual list of natural cemeteries in the Midlands/East Anglia would be helpful. And, of course, being MSE, any ways of keeping costs down.

mumsicle_2

Hi, I have no experience of this at all. But just outside Loughborough there is a sign for a natural burial ground. I have just googled it and found some info, if you scroll down the page to prestwold burial ground.

http://www.igreens.org.uk/woodland_burial_sites_uk.htm

Hope this helps.

Just found this too.

http://www.naturalburial.co.uk/

Lillibet_2

Margaretclare is very clued up on this, might be worth PMing her.

HTH;)

margaretclare

Hi, thanks Lillibet, I've seen this.

I'm told by a friend who is a funeral director in York that all funeral directors are aware of this now and have all the information - if this is not something they themselves do then they 'know a man who can'.

This is where we're planning to go: https://www.green-burial.co.uk at Herongate Wood near Billericay. They give full details, prices, everything.

If you 'google' green burials or woodland burials you'll come up with a wealth of information.

The Midlands - I know there's a site at Golden Valley near Ripley, Derbyshire. Peace Funerals at Sheffield know about this. East Anglia - well, that could be Herongate Wood.

HTH

Margaret

bucksliz

Try this

http://www.woodlandburialparks.co.uk/

happyshopper

There's more info here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/family/story/0,,1743306,00.html
http://environment.guardian.co.uk/ethicalliving/story/0,,1875948,00.html

Alfie_E

margaretclare wrote:

Hi, thanks Lillibet, I've seen this.

Thanks. You beat me to sending you a PM. I’m starting to realise the idea isn’t so uncommon. I had concerns that I could be confronted by problems or delays, which is why I was asking beforehand. Maybe it won’t be needed right now, but that’s looking less likely.

I can see why it might become increasingly popular. It isn’t the eco bit that’s so important to my father, but the location of burial. Although, he’s got a less conventional view of death – that the spirit is constrained, at least initially, to close to the location of burial, so he’d rather it was somewhere nice. And, a woodland cemetery would be a suitable place.

I was wondering why Lillibet had recommended you. I was wondering if you’d already been disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner, but clearly not.

Sallys_Savings

If you are looking for a woodland burial site in east anglia my mother is buried in one near Cambridge.

http://www.arborytrust.org/introduction.htm

I could even dig out the local funeral directors name and no. if you're interested at all. Please feel free to drop me a pm.

At the moment it is all quite new and the plants are still young, but given time it is going to be a lovely place.

My mother knew she was dying and we looked on the internet and she visited the site before her passing.

margaretclare

Alfie_E wrote:

Thanks. You beat me to sending you a PM. I’m starting to realise the idea isn’t so uncommon. I had concerns that I could be confronted by problems or delays, which is why I was asking beforehand. Maybe it won’t be needed right now, but that’s looking less likely.

I can see why it might become increasingly popular. It isn’t the eco bit that’s so important to my father, but the location of burial. Although, he’s got a less conventional view of death – that the spirit is constrained, at least initially, to close to the location of burial, so he’d rather it was somewhere nice. And, a woodland cemetery would be a suitable place.

I was wondering why Lillibet had recommended you. I was wondering if you’d already been disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner, but clearly not.

No, I'm still here, but that's what DH and I have planned for ourselves when the time comes. We have leaflets from the Herongate Wood site kept with our copy wills and our solicitor has one with our wills. I can't imagine a nicer place than a bluebell wood. DH's parents are buried in a horrible place - the Orthodox Jewish cemetery at Bushey - he hates it and having seen it, I can understand why. All white marble and not a tree or a flower. I wanted to take them some flowers but he said it wouldn't be allowed.

I think the Herongate Wood site has got it all tied-up in that they act as funeral directors, a funeral service can be held there, a place to have refreshments etc, so it should be quite economical. Their prices are all clearly-stated. What can cost so much in a 'conventional' funeral is the transport. You get the body brought to the funeral director's, in the funeral parlour, then transported from there maybe for a church service, then to the crematorium or cemetery - it all costs, the hearse, the limousines. Whereas with the one we've chosen it's all in the same place. It's possible to have a religious service - we've stipulated a simple Christian service (in case bro-in-law has any other ideas!) - we're both members of our local Methodist Church which is where we were married, and bro-in-law had a few things to say abut that, but we didn't invite him.

As people may be coming from a distance, refreshments can be laid on and a little get-together. Alternatively it's possible to have a humanist service or anything you want.

HTH

Margaret