"Green" burials

[missyburd]

I went to my first one today (and only the second ever funeral I've been to) and I really thought it was beautiful. The chap who's funeral it was had wanted no religion involved at all and he was buried on a beautiful patch of woodland where a new tree is planted for every body. The sun shone despite the bitter winds and someone saw a rainbow. A truly lovely way to go.

Has anyone had any experience of these? I believe they are on the increase as religion begins to take a back seat.

And this is not meant to be a morbid thread, I just thought I would mention them and perhaps promote them as they are a great alternative to your average funeral.

[metalangel]

That's really nice, a nice little woodland to rest in peace in.

My grandparents are buried next to a busy railway line in Thornhill Ontario, and my other grandparents are buried next to the Central Line in Walthamstow! A bit... noisy... especially on the day itself when any little thing could set you off.

Does it cost more? Do they still use coffins?

[missyburd]

A wicker casket was used today but they offer a range of biodegradable options. This was the place http://www.tarnmoor.co.uk/about_us.html

Not sure if it costs more, I have no idea what a "normal" burial costs...

[Bluepete]

It's one thing I've had a few thoughts about. I don't fancy rotting away in the company of many others in a graveyard, so I want to be cremated. No memorial to visit and laugh over, erm, mourn over rather!

Specifically, if I should shuffle off this mortal coil at the roadside, NO-ONE is allowed to put flowers at the scene, on pain of being haunted for life! I hate the sight of withered bouquets tied to lamp-posts, nothing is more depressing!

Burn me, chuck me into the wind near a bench over Slaidburn and carry on.

Pete ;)

[BernardBikerchick]

wow 100% got my backing for this love this idea !!! or out to sea anything but being burnt or buried i say !!!!!!! i've been to over 24 i think at last count funerals and anything that puts u back with nature is a big YES for me !! hope you're ok hun xxx they are tough but glad it went as well as it could !xx

[Messie]

My Dad was buried at a green burial site. It's a large patch of land next to the Manningtree esturary which otherwise can't be used for much. Over the next few years it will be turned into a new forest as each burial gets marked with a native tree.
It doesn't cost any more or less than another type of funeral really. There's the cost of the plot, but the rest is up to you. You can go for full on cardboard or basket coffins if you wish, but as the funeral directors pointed out to us, wood decays like everything else. The only thing they asked was that the body wasn't embalmed in any way (which isn't that common these days anyway) and that any clothes he was wearing were natural fibres or just a silk or cotton shroud.

Was a lovely burial, after a church service which was what Mother wanted. Peaceful, natural, quiet, simple, with just family - just like my dad, really. I want to go there too.

[MisterTommyH]

I'm thinking about being donated to science or medical student.....hopefully a very long way off but might as well be useful!

[missyburd]

My Dad was buried at a green burial site. It's a large patch of land next to the Manningtree esturary which otherwise can't be used for much. Over the next few years it will be turned into a new forest as each burial gets marked with a native tree.
It doesn't cost any more or less than another type of funeral really. There's the cost of the plot, but the rest is up to you. You can go for full on cardboard or basket coffins if you wish, but as the funeral directors pointed out to us, wood decays like everything else. The only thing they asked was that the body wasn't embalmed in any way (which isn't that common these days anyway) and that any clothes he was wearing were natural fibres or just a silk or cotton shroud.

Was a lovely burial, after a church service which was what Mother wanted. Peaceful, natural, quiet, simple, with just family - just like my dad, really. I want to go there too.

Aww lovely :-) Manningtree is pretty too, as I had the pleasure of finding out earlier this year.

I think it's a great idea and you can make it as religious as you wish if at all.

[Littlepeahead]

That sounds so peaceful. If I'm going to be cremated then I'd like my ashes scattered around a few of my favourite places: Lord's, the cricket ground at Chelmsford, maybe a sprinkle at the Oval and in the New Forest.

A friend choose to have her ashes scattered at the top of her favourite mountain where she went skiiing. Her husband, friends and their vicar all carried her ashes up there, had lunch in the restaurant at the top, drank a glass of champagne in her memory, scattered her ashes over the viewpoint then had nice a ski back down. They said it was a fitting way to say goodbye to a lady who was full of life and died far too young.

[missyburd]

A friend choose to have her ashes scattered at the top of her favourite mountain where she went skiiing. Her husband, friends and their vicar all carried her ashes up there, had lunch in the restaurant at the top, drank a glass of champagne in her memory, scattered her ashes over the viewpoint then had nice a ski back down. They said it was a fitting way to say goodbye to a lady who was full of life and died far too young.

Exactly. People seem to associate funerals with all that doom and gloom and although it is an event which comes with great sadness, it really should be more about the celebration of life and all the things the departed accomplished when they were alive. I haven't been to enough of these things to really understand them. The one today involved a service of sorts in an intimate setting with a few people saying a few words and some favourite music played, just the right amount of laughter and sorrow.

This was one of the poems on the service sheet, really sums up what I've just said:

If you knew him.....you would love him
If he knew you.....you were blessed
If he loved you...you were honoured
'Cos you were loved by the best!

:-)

[Biker Biggles]

Id like to be turned into a special treat for my canine mates.

[maviczap]

H'mm I've had several plans

Ashes scattered at sea from one of our boats - too much hassle for my wife and the crew, she gets sea sick! Did one a few years ago, not good for crew moral

Favourites are having ashes put into a rocket and blasted off over the sea, so out with a bang!

Or ashes scattered at my local lake, nice and peaceful place where I've spent many a happy hour

But I would like a motorcycle hearse

Father in law was going to have a cardboard coffin but the funeral directors had a few issues with glueing the coffin properly, so he got a cheap pine one

His ashes are in a quite area of the church set aside for ashes. Quite nice and simple

[embee]

I've left instructions with the executors of my will that I want to be buried at Sunrising (http://www.nrbgrounds.co.uk/sunrising/index.html) burial ground which is at the bottom of Sun Rise Hill on the road from Banbury to Stratford. It's one of my favourite roads and a lovely spot, I'll be happy there with a tree.

[G]

My grandad has a non religious service, it was just as I would like, favourite songs, close family... Perfect. He gave his body to science too.

Kerry has two friends here...

http://www.woodlandburialoxton.co.uk/home.htm

http://www.oxtonestate.com/burial_ground_map.html

They died together on a bike on the M1 a couple of years back, closed the M1 for days and was all over the news... Horrific

[tactcom7]

I remember that M1 crash, made for quite distressing reading :-(

[fizzwheel]

My friend had a wicker casket when he was buried, didnt really think much of it at the time, but it held with what he believed in during his life.

My neice had a humanist ceremony, no religion at all, the person doing the ceremony, read out a poem and we released balloons, it was a celebration and a way to say goodbye, personally I thought it was a beautiful to say goodbye to her.

[Ed]

I read about a Swedish method, freezing the corpse in liquid nitogen, it goes brittle and friable, and then breaks down into dust, then buried, and it breaks down completely after about a year with no pollution. Sounded good to me. I have no amalgam fillings, I've had them all replaced with paste, so there won't be any mercury pollution:D

[Teejayexc]

That sounds so peaceful. If I'm going to be cremated then I'd like my ashes scattered around a few of my favourite places: Lord's, the cricket ground at Chelmsford, maybe a sprinkle at the Oval and in the New Forest.

A friend choose to have her ashes scattered at the top of her favourite mountain where she went skiiing. Her husband, friends and their vicar all carried her ashes up there, had lunch in the restaurant at the top, drank a glass of champagne in her memory, scattered her ashes over the viewpoint then had nice a ski back down. They said it was a fitting way to say goodbye to a lady who was full of life and died far too young.

Don't they lock you up for that? [-X

[Lozzo]

It's one thing I've had a few thoughts about. I don't fancy rotting away in the company of many others in a graveyard, so I want to be cremated. No memorial to visit and laugh over, erm, mourn over rather!

Specifically, if I should shuffle off this mortal coil at the roadside, NO-ONE is allowed to put flowers at the scene, on pain of being haunted for life! I hate the sight of withered bouquets tied to lamp-posts, nothing is more depressing!

Burn me, chuck me into the wind near a bench over Slaidburn and carry on.

Pete ;)

My sentiments entirely, only I want my ashes scattered at various race circuits. I hate the flowers at the roadside thing, really gets my back up.

[BanannaMan]

My funeral arrangements???
I could care less. I'll be dead!

Talk to anyone in the business. Funerals and peaceful final resting places are to comfort the living.
The dead are either (depending on your beliefs) gone forever or off to some other place.
I do think way too much is spent on funerals for the same reason.
Inherited spaces in my familys plot in a cemetary so told the wife just to dispose of me as cheap as possible and plant me there.
Spreading ashes at special places seems pretty cool too though.

But truthfully a fancy casket with all the flowers or thrown in trash bin, won't really matter to me then. I won't be there. :smt039

[timwilky]

I have always said plant a tree for me. But where I want to be disposed of a burial would not be possible, so scatter my ashes to the wind and plant a forest of Oak.

[454697819]

I have always said plant a tree for me. But where I want to be disposed of a burial would not be possible, so scatter my ashes to the wind and plant a forest of Oak.

a full forest, I have some daff bulbs will they do?

[petevtwin650]

It's one thing I've had a few thoughts about. I don't fancy rotting away in the company of many others in a graveyard, so I want to be cremated. No memorial to visit and laugh over, erm, mourn over rather!

Specifically, if I should shuffle off this mortal coil at the roadside, NO-ONE is allowed to put flowers at the scene, on pain of being haunted for life! I hate the sight of withered bouquets tied to lamp-posts, nothing is more depressing!

Pete ;)

With you on those thoughts, Pete. I'd be quite happy to be chucked on a bonfire in the garden. Once I've shuffled off this mortal coil, before you all get Joan of Arc type ideas :smt103

An old riding buddy, from centuries past, died recently and was laid to rest here

http://www.sustainability-centre.org/text.php?page=Our%20burial%20site

I didn't go, but apparently his daughter dug the grave and his son made the bio-begradable coffin. No traffic is allowed on the site, so a horse drawn bier was used for the his final short journey. No headstone is laid, but you can find any burial plot by a plan in the office. Much nicer place to finish up than a gloomy cemetery IMO.

The family used this company for getting him to the burial site

http://www.motorcyclefunerals.com/

[Quedos]

Medical science - great idea if they take you- but you could be with them for up to three years so family can't do much but they will pay for the funeral expenses. Mum went to Med Sci - had her back in 5 weeks her notes for her treatment were as useful as what was left after the last RA cheno blast. That was the longest 5 weeks ever, its true that the family does need some sort of closure. To say goodbye
My mum had a wicker coffin - Scotland still has a lot of red tape round what we can and can't used for burnings. Her friend had a seagrass bag as she called it and wanted the same.
a non religious service conducted by a family friend - man of the cloth - with the dirtiest ditties I've heard about my mum. And we got asked to move on at the crem as the next lot were waiting to come in as we done the usual line up. Glad to say that most tears were of laughter.
She has approx 30 trees planted in the national forest and a bench up on the coast so we can go and annoy when we are down that way - yeah i know she's not there and i talk to her all the time anyway.
Her ashes - scattered far and wide including off the middle tower of the cable car in Barcelona ( all over the motorbikes below). The remainder sit in a box with hope on it on the fireand it about to get decorated for christmas. (yep we're weird)
These types are still rare up here so cost more but I think that more people are going in this direction I know that my mums was talked about with the crem workers for a long time after.
Her names in the book at thats all

[Speedy Claire]

Quedos I love your post, the love and respect for your mum shines out x

I really do like the idea of, and support for green burials. I read recently that the church of England had a meeting to actually encourage and take on the idea of green burials so that should hopefully help in reducing the amount of red tape surrounding the burials. I also like that idea that the burial sites could not be identified to an untrained eye as they are careful to keep the sites at one with nature and the surrounding area ie. no headstones etc. Personally I feel depressed by the look and feel of a cemetary, it would be far nicer to be able to sit under a tree in a beautiful environment and be alone with thoughts and memories.. far more uplifting.

As much as I`d like to consider a green burial for myself it won`t happen.... when my time is up I will be cremated as we have a family plot and I want my ashes to be put there alongside my nan, my mum and my little boy.

[BanannaMan]

The family used this company for getting him to the burial site

http://www.motorcyclefunerals.com/ (http://www.motorcyclefunerals.com/ [/QUOTE)



Ha! Paul Sinclair is an old mate of mine.
I remember when he used to do motorcycle stunts before he started doing bike funerals.
Tell em' BanannaMan sent you!

[petevtwin650]

Ha! Paul Sinclair is an old mate of mine.
I remember when he used to do motorcycle stunts before he started doing bike funerals.
Tell em' BanannaMan sent you!

Be kinda funny if he forgot and reverted to his old ways, Bill. Jumping graves, getting mourners to lie down and then jumping over them too, finishing off with a tyre popping burnout that covered the coffin in massive bits of rubber. Maybe not! :smt103

[Bluepete]

Ha! Paul Sinclair is an old mate of mine.
I remember when he used to do motorcycle stunts before he started doing bike funerals.
Tell em' BanannaMan sent you!

He could do a Meatloaf "Bat out of Hell" sttyle stunt and rise from the grave!

Pete ;)

[Stig]

I don't want a funeral service. I don't want to be buried. I don't want to be cremated and have someone scatter my ashes somewhere specific.

When I go I am dead. Putting my remains somewhere 'special' isn't going to make a difference to me. I'm already gone. I don't believe in after life or anything else like that.

I would be happy to have my dead body taken away and thrown on a bonfire. In the local skip, or chucked on the local tip. I don't want people to waste their time visiting 'me' where I have been laid. I'm not there, that's just my carcass which aided me in my living life.

Remember me, but don't waste your time mourning over me. Get on and live the rest of your life while you still have it.

[timwilky]

He could do a Meatloaf "Bat out of Hell" sttyle stunt and rise from the grave!

Pete ;)


No more Phycomania style where not only do you rise from the grave on your bike, but you hunt down those who in life Peed you off.

[missyburd]

I would be happy to have my dead body taken away and thrown on a bonfire. In the local skip, or chucked on the local tip. I don't want people to waste their time visiting 'me' where I have been laid. I'm not there, that's just my carcass which aided me in my living life.


In all honesty isn't that a bit selfish and insensitive? Most of the actions taken after a death are simply to help the living cope with the healing process more easily. Yes you're not around anymore but how would your children feel if they knew that Daddy just wants to be "chucked on the tip or skip"? Sometimes family want a place to remember you by, hence the scattering of ashes or a headstone. And despite the common thing being heard at funerals "It's what he/she would have wanted", more often it's only partly about that.

I do see what you're saying of course, everyone has the right to think what they like about what happens after death, but it's not always about you you you, as you say, you're out of the picture, it should be more about those that have to live with the fact you're not in their lives anymore :smt102

[Stig]

I hear what your saying. If my family and friends felt it necessary to keep going back to where my body was disposed of then I guess that's up to them. If they feel that is the only or best way to remember me then so be it. I personally find it an upsetting event. It reminds me they are no longer with me rather than remembering the times when they were. I lost my best friend in a motorcycle accident many years ago, I remember him all the time. I don't need to go visit where his ashes were scattered to do that. He was a fantastic character and a love him or hate him sort of guy. I'll never forget him.

Just my personal point of view is all. :)

[Messie]

I have to agree that a funeral and/or burial is for the living, not for the dead. I like to think my dad would've approved of his green burial but it was very much what we as his family wanted.
Last week end I went to the grave of someone who died 21 years ago. I had a little chat and a little cry and it made me both sad and peaceful. I've been to my dad's tree as well and it gives me some comfort. No-one would tell me where my grandparents were buried so I found out and visited them a few ago too

[Quiff Wichard]

thats the way I will go..


a schoolfriend of ours passed away and had that type of service. wicker coffin etc..

was lovely

[yorkie_chris]

We scattered some of a friend of mine alongside the track at Le Mans :)

Not like he'll notice, but it was a good and symbolic way for some of friends and family to say goodbye in a place of many happy memories.

http://www.lifecelebrationfunerals.co.uk/
This guy did his funeral service, which was excellent. He's also a good guy to chat to despite a slightly dubious taste in bikes. :smt103



I didn't go, but apparently his daughter dug the grave

On a practical note I bet she felt that one in the morning.

[-Ralph-]

Been to one at Westall Park Natural Burial Ground near Redditch, it was the nicest funeral I've been to if there is such a thing as a nice funeral.