3 minute read
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
WE 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.
It is an extremely tranquil site with the river Chater running along the bottom. Paths are mown around the di erent areas and the aim is to create a balance between not having too many manicured areas but keeping the site well maintained for the relatives. ‘We want people to accept the biodiversity of the meadows,’ Emma says. ‘Dandelions, buttercups and grasses are ust as beneficial to insect life
‘We provide families with a mix of seeds to scatter on the plot in our meadow burial and cremated remains areas. We encourage families to come back at a later date to scatter them. This way they feel like they’re involved in producing the landscape and it’s a very nice way of getting children in ol ed eople often bring cake and a ask of tea; it s important for people to come and spend time with their lo ed ones f course you can lay owers but we ask that any plastic is removed. Then we leave them until they’re well and truly over before we remove them.’
All the work they do above ground to sustain the environment is going to be ruined if man made products are used during the burial. Eco choices include wool, wicker and water hyacinth which is a softer plant than wicker. Soft woods like natural pine are allowed as they aren’t varnished or treated. Anything veneered is not allowed as it is essentially compressed board that is glued. Cardboard is banned too. Shrouds are allowed but most funeral directors prefer co ns are used
There is plenty of room to extend the current burial areas. People can prepay for a plot and choose to be buried next to their loved ones. All the graves are plotted on a document that is regularly updated. ‘Sometimes it can be a bit disorientating locating a loved one,’ says Emma, ‘so we will always help isitors to find them
For more information visit www.tithegreen.com
