Woodland burials

Woodland burial (also known as natural burial or green burial) has become an increasingly popular choice in the UK.

Families that choose this kind of grave for their loved one find it soothing to be somewhere natural. It helps them to understand that their loss is a natural part of life and the planet’s life cycle.

Natural Endings has detailed knowledge of the woodland burial sites available for use in the North West, and will be happy to advise you regarding the benefits of each.

There are quite a few different options, each with a different character. We are regularly consulted for advice by new sites that are opening. All of the pictures shown are of natural burial sites that we use.

Some of these woodland cemeteries are a piece of land that will mature into a piece of woodland in the future. Others are already set in amongst mature trees and are especially landscaped for their particular use.

Alternatively we can arrange a green funeral burial on your own land.

Grave marking in woodland sites

Graves aren’t marked with vertical marble headstones as they are in traditional cemeteries. Graves are either left unmarked (though logged on plans) or they have a small wooden marker or a horizontal flat engraved natural stone marker.

One of the advantages of these kind of graves is that they don’t have to be maintained in the way that old style graves do.

Many woodland and natural burial grounds discourage items being left on graves, and want only native trees and plants to be planted.

Most can’t allow a tree on each grave, as not all the trees would survive in close proximity to each other. The cemeteries that don’t allow a tree on the actual grave will have other areas where trees and shrubs can be dedicated to a loved one.

 

Our services

Coffins for woodland burials

Many of these natural/woodland burial grounds require that an eco-coffin be used. An eco-coffin is biodegradable and has no metal parts or plastic that can’t break down.

Examples are coffins made from cardboardwillowbamboowoolseagrass, pandanus and jute. Some also accept lambswool shrouds.

For a more traditional aesthetic we have wooden coffins from sustainable wood sources.

It would also be considered more eco-friendly if the person hasn’t been embalmed, though embalmed bodies will be accepted into these natural burial grounds.

View all eco-coffin ranges suitable for woodland burial

Our locations
Highly recommended by the Natural Death Centre! We have received many letters from families who could not speak more positively about the service received by Natural Endings Funeral Services.

Rosie Inman-Cook; Manager of The Natural Death Centre

Rosie was wonderful. From the first time we contacted her she was kind and gentle. Throughout the whole process, she made us feel confident and at ease with all the practicalities. We changed our minds a lot about the type of funeral service we wanted and she accommodated us without any problem in all our requests. Even last minute requests were responded to and dealt with positively. We chose the cream wool coffin and if you can say a coffin looks beautiful, it did, with a posy of English flowers on top. Rosie and her pall bearers were professional, elegant and supportive on the day of the funeral. The men were gentle giants.They were all so sensitive with us and with our Mum. Supporting us as a family to carry our Mum in and out of church holding the coffin by the side handles.The price of the funeral was extremely reasonable and we were given all the costs up front, no hidden or added on costs

Jo Bayly & Lindsay Parish, Bowdon

“I felt great warmth and compassion from Rosie, Natural Endings, when I went to visit my Grand-Mother in the Chapel of Rest. I greatly appreciated being able to spend quiet, unrushed time with her, and it was an honour also to assist Rosie in the final shrouding of my Grand-Mother and the closing of her willow coffin. Thank you Rosie for this and your gentleness. It was greatly appreciated by myself and my family.

Tom Baskeyfield

Woodland Burial Area in Blackley

This is an image of the Woodland Burial Area in Blackley. A special electric hearse takes the coffin up to the top of the hill where the graves are situated amongst mature trees.

There are nice views of Heaton Park. Graves are left very natural and plain, but there are options to have memorial birdboxes or an inscribed natural stone plaque.

The service can be either graveside or in one of the Blackley Cemetery chapels.

If you have had a bereavement and would like to talk to someone about funeral arrangements,
please call our 24 hour numbers –

0161 969 6690 for South Manchester and Cheshire

01706 941757for Todmorden, South Lancashire and Calderdale

We are happy to discuss your requirements and provide you with a no-commitment estimate of costs.

Contact us