If you want to be buried under the stars at midnight, in a sea grass, biodegradable coffin it’s almost as easy to arrange as the traditional church or crematorium service.
However unless you own the land you can’t ask to be buried just anywhere, or there might be as many sleeping silent souls as visitors at some of our more scenic spots.
You can actually be buried in your own garden if you want, there are no planning restrictions other than you must not pollute a watercourse. But when you sell the house you must let the incoming purchasers know that they’ve got company: It has to go on the title deeds.
The closest designated woodland burial ground to the Cirencester area is near Yate. It’s a drive away but beautiful and welcomes those of all faiths and beliefs. There’s a chapel for whatever kind of service you want and families can bring their own minister or celebrant.
For some years we’ve been trying to establish a woodland burial site closer to Cirencester because woodland burials appeal to so many, but we’ve yet to find a good site – it’s a bigger challenge than just finding a large field. We need planning permission for facilities, and shelter so people could spend the whole day there.
Sourcing environmentally friendly coffins is easier. From sea grass to willow, bamboo – even water hyacinth leaves, we buy them from all over the place, but those in willow and sea grass are made by hand and can be very expensive. We were the first in the UK to import cardboard coffins but however sustainable it sounds, there were practical issues to overcome. They weren’t cheap, because they were designed to carry a lot of weight, and of course they have to stay together when it rains.
One point about coffins made out of willow, sea grass or bamboo is that they are more attractive and easier on the eye. The whole emphasis of funerals has changed. People want to be uplifted and not made to feel even sadder than they already are and green funerals can sometimes fit the bill perfectly.
