"Green" burials

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.

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?

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

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!

Originally Posted by 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.

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.

Originally Posted by Littlepeahead

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!