Woodland Burials: The natural way forward?

As we become increasingly aware of our impact on the environment, it’s unsurprising that in recent years natural burials (often called woodland burials) are growing rapidly in popularity. Does this mean that woodland burials are the natural way forward in the UK, and perhaps across the world?

Why choose a woodland burial?

With so many cemeteries now reaching capacity and with our growing awareness of the impact cremated remains have on our ecosystem, woodland burials are now the clear choice for many, and there are close to 300 natural burial grounds across the UK.

It may seem daunting at first to choose an alternative to the more traditional burial and cremation practices we’re accustomed to, but natural burials have many wonderful benefits. Firstly, they allow our bodies or ashes to naturally become part of the earth without involving any materials or chemicals harmful to the environment.

According to Laura de Wesselow, Owner of Belsay Woodland Burials near Newcastle upon Tyne, “returning the body to earth naturally, to be recycled into new life, can be an uplifting spiritual experience. The grave then becomes a living, breathing legacy and part of a protected nature reserve that can be enjoyed by both visitors and wildlife. Natural burials have minimal impact on the environment, help to look after our countryside and provide a wonderful way to remember our loved ones by planting trees, shrubs and wild flowers.”

Secondly, woodland burials allow for funeral and celebration of life services to be held in beautiful, scenic locations, and many say that visiting a natural burial ground afterwards – which many do for years to come – is far more pleasant than visiting a graveyard.

Woodland burial sites are picturesque, natural and peaceful spaces, allowing people to visit, relax and walk through the grounds at their leisure.

Woodland burials and cremation

In the UK funeral profession, cremation is now far more widely chosen than burial – a dramatic turnaround compared to just a few decades ago.

For those opting for cremation, natural burial sites allow ashes to be interred in biodegradable containers, and there are now a large number of ‘green’ urns available in the marketplace. Some also allow for ashes to be scattered, but this would need to be checked with the burial ground custodian.

Essex-based funeral celebrant Wanda Barnard points out that for anyone seeking a more natural, ecological option, a good choice is the ‘living memorial’. “These come mostly in the form of tree urns and are made of natural materials. One example is the ‘bio urn’ – biodegradable tree urns that come in a variety of sizes and shapes, some with a choice of seeds. The pot containing the living memory tree can then grow and move with the family. Tree urns turn death into a transformation of returning to life, through nature.”

“Woollen, wicker, cardboard urns, scatter tubes and boxes also add to the list of environmentally friendly products,” says Wanda. “There are paper mache urns ranging from the basic unpainted versions to products that are beautifully sculpted and decorated. And for those looking to lay their loved one’s ashes to rest in water, biodegradable, soluble urns are a great way of ‘being at one’ with nature. When submerged, or buried along the shoreline, these environmentally friendly urns gently dissolve.”

Woodland burial funerals

Another advantage offered by most woodland burial sites is the option to hold the committal and/or funeral service outdoors at the graveside, giving family and friends the time and space they need to say goodbye. This serves as a contrast to traditional crematoriums, where many services are subject to time constraints and families can often feel rushed.

“Here at Belsay, our experience is that relatives find great comfort in attending the burial,” explains Laura. “We have had all types of services, featuring religious ministers, celebrants or just members of the family, using their own words and music. A lot of people have chosen to use our pony, Sam, with his coffin cart to transport the deceased to the burial site. Sam is extremely popular with old and young alike, making their experience so much more memorable and charming. Most families have come back to attend our tree plantings as well, and that has been extremely cathartic for them.”

Worcestershire-based celebrant Peter Billingham finds that families are increasingly choosing outdoor alternatives like woodland burial sites to celebrate the life of someone who has died.

According to Peter, “there is a quiet revolution taking place in the funeral industry, and though the time-held traditions of black hearses, frock tailed coats and top hats will not be disappearing soon, change is coming. The shoots of those changes are appearing as more families plan and attend outdoor ceremonies.”

Peter quotes from the Christina Rossetti poem Let Me Go, and says he has frequently found himself reading those beautiful lines standing in a sombre, gothic crematorium, when they are arguably far more suited to an uplifting and meaningful ceremony conducted in the beauty of the great outdoors:

When I come to the end of the road
And the sun has set for me
I want no rites in a gloom filled room
Why cry for a soul set free?

“Why be constrained to gloom-filled rooms,” asks Peter, “when you could be outside or at an alternative location? Natural and woodland burial grounds are seeing the growth in families choosing to have their outdoor ceremony under pagodas or in their woods, feeling like a cathedral of the skies is more suitable for their loved one than a crematorium chapel.”

When I ‘come to the end of the road, and the sun has set for me,’ I’ve told my family I want my life to be celebrated outdoors, surrounded by the nature I loved to walk through… oh, and dogs! I want dogs to be at my funeral, and you can’t do that in a gloom-filled room!”

Woodland burials near me

If you’d like to find out more about woodland and natural burials, you may wish to search our directory of natural burial grounds to find a site near you and get in touch for a tour.

Please note, Eco Endings launched in 2024 and we are still growing our directory, so if you can’t find a site nearby, you may also wish to check the Natural Death Centre list of natural burial grounds across the country.