The one certainty
ECO BURIALS The Ketton green burial site has recently been taken over by Tithe Green Natural Burial. Kate met manager Emma Stafford to find out more
W
E ARE EXTREMELY fortunate that for the last 20 years we have had a green burial site in the area. Other ones nearby are in Leicester, Sleaford and Huntingdon. Natural or eco burials are rapidly growing in popularity. One reason for this is that the setting is more relaxed and peaceful than a council run cemetery which is usually a lot more regimental. Councils have more health and safety issues to contend with in maintaining the headstones particularly as they are often hundreds of years old and often there are no relatives left to continue to maintain the plots. Funeral costs are generally lower than a traditional burial and, of course, natural burials are much better for the environment as there is no glue from veneers, no varnish or chemicals used. At a green burial site families can arrange a graveside funeral or a cremated remains interment which can be tailored to each individual. ‘Not everyone is religious,’ Emma says, ‘and the relatives might want something low key and personal with no religion. Others want the full bells and whistles. t s a ery di cult time for people he burial is the final opportunity to do something for a loved one and it has to be right. Initially we meet the family and have a walk
round the site to get an idea of where they d like the final resting place to be.’ he site co ers acres with a mi ture of woodland and wild ower meadows hose who choose the woodland have trees planted directly on the burial or ashes interment plot. Burials obviously take place all year round but the trees dedicated to each individual are planted between November and February. he meadow option is in the wild ower meadow where adjacent plots can be reserved if required. Memorial trees can be planted close by, but not on the plots. Welsh slate plaques dedicated to the deceased are unobtrusively laid in the ground; from a distance you wouldn’t know they were there.
July 2022 / theactivemag.com
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