Category: News

Christmas and New Year at The Natural Burial Company

As we approach the festive period we understand the need to visit and remember loved ones. And to expect care and service when needed, no matter what time of the year it is. Therefore, we wish to confirm that we will remain available at all times.

Visiting Burial Grounds – Our natural burial grounds remain open to visitors throughout the Christmas and New Year period. We do not have opening times, therefore, you are free to visit at a time convenient to you. We simply ask that you are consider the weather conditions to ensure your own health and safety, and that you abide by our guidelines regarding remembrance items on graves.

Our Service to you – You will be able to contact us at all times over the Christmas and New Year period. Our team will be available to visit, make arrangements, and provide support and advice. We will have a limited team available on certain days though so we may not be able to immediately answer phone calls. If this is the case please leave a message and one of our team will return your call at the earliest opportunity.

Our shared Community Hub at 1118a Melton Road, Syston LE7 2HA will be open weekdays between 10.00am and 3.00pm with the exception of Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Years Day. Outside of these hours we can visit you in your own home if required.

Service Times at the Natural Burial Grounds – Services are available as our standard practice (every day except Sunday, flexibility regarding times of service, only one full service per day per burial ground) with the exception of Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Years Day.

Finally, may we wish everyone a peaceful Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year.

Natural Burial Locations

Prestwold
Scraptoft
Wrottesley Park

Find out about a Prepaid Funeral Plan

You may not be aware, but The Natural Burial Company work in partnership with Open Prepaid Funerals.

Prepaying for your funeral puts you in control, giving yourself and your loved ones peace of mind at what can be often be an emotional and difficult time.

Further information is available here Planning Ahead with The Natural Burial Company or call Open Prepaid Funerals on 0330 660 0072.

The Natural Burial Company is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Open Prepaid Funerals Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Firm Reference Number 962403

Natural Burial Locations

Prestwold
Scraptoft
Wrottesley Park

About Natural Burial

We receive a lot of questions about natural burial and what we do. We also sometimes read and hear information and opinions that are potentially misleading. Therefore, in a series of blogs we aim to answer questions and put minds at rest regarding natural burial, environmentally friendly funerals, and the services we provide. If there is question you would like answering please contact our team who would be happy to help.

Is natural burial really more environmentally friendly? – Yes, natural burial allows only environmentally friendly coffins, caskets or shrouds to be used. The deceased is not embalmed. Graves are dug by hand to a depth that maximises aerobic decomposition. And the burial grounds are maintained with a light touch to encourage nature and biodiversity. Furthermore, memorial options such as bird boxes, insect habitats and hedgehog homes support wildlife. The ultimate natural memorial is also available, a beautiful tree provides a lasting legacy for future generations to benefit from and enjoy.

Are we not running out of burial space? – Whilst this may be partially true in built-up areas where land has been used for housing, retail and factories. The fact is that we have been burying our dead in the UK for tens of thousands of years without problem.  It has been estimated that if every death in the UK resulted in a burial this would count for only approximately 750 acres of land per year. There are also now over 300 natural burial grounds in the UK, a similar volume to the number of crematoria, which means that almost everyone has a natural burial ground reasonably close to their home.

Does natural burial cost more? – In many areas the cost of a plot and interment in a natural burial ground is much lower than in a local municipal cemetery. Natural burial is also comparable in cost to cremation in many areas, whilst also ensuring a beautiful, peaceful place to visit and remember loved ones.

What will happen to the burial ground in the future? – Our natural burial grounds will be left to nature, to ensure nature and biodiversity thrives and the community has a beautiful place to visit. Other natural burial grounds will be placed into trust. If you are unsure regarding your local natural burial ground feel free to contact them, we are sure they would welcome the opportunity to explain their future plans.

Can we have floral tributes at the funeral? – Yes. We simply ask that you don’t use plastic trays, florist foam (oasis) or other materials that are environmentally unfriendly. There are an increasing number of florists who offer green alternatives. And if you are lucky enough to have a garden, what could be more personal than picking a selection of home grown flowers for your loved one.

Do you really have picnics at the graveside? – Yes, during the warmer months many families have picnics at the natural burial ground. We only conduct one full burial a day, so you have the time to spend as you wish. Our team remain available for you and we can provide tea, coffee, squash and music via quality blue-tooth speakers. Our aim is to provide you everything you need to ensure a personal goodbye in a way that’s appropriate and special.

Natural Burial Locations

Prestwold
Scraptoft
Wrottesley Park

Learning about Green Funerals

We understand that many people would like to know more about green funerals but may find it difficult to find information. Therefore, we offer various options to help the public, community groups, and funeral service professionals to be more aware of how a goodbye can be as environmentally friendly as possible.

You can arrange to meet a member of our team at one of our natural burial grounds at any time, we can also visit you.

Community Groups

We can visit your community group and conduct presentations on Making a funeral greener, Cost-effective Funeral Services, or Natural Burial. The presentation can be general or can include the services provided by The Natural Burial Company. The presentation will finish with a question and answer session and information will be available to take away.

Alternatively, groups can visit our natural burial grounds for a tour and explanation of natural burial, what we offer, and how all funerals can be greener.

Funeral Service Professionals

Celebrants, funeral directors and arrangers, florists, end of life doulas and anyone involved in bereavement and funeral services is welcome to arrange to visit our burial grounds. We can also visit branches and offices to provide information to help professionals be better equipped to help support clients and the general public regarding green funerals.

The General Public

Everyone is welcome to contact us at any time for further information. You can phone on (0116) 222 0247 or email and we can send information by email or post.

A personal visit to a natural burial ground is often the best option if you are able, this allows the greatest understanding of natural burial and how we encourage nature and ensure a natural legacy for all in our care.

Our team are here to help everyone to make the right choices for themselves, their loved ones, and the environment.

Natural Burial Locations

Prestwold
Scraptoft
Wrottesley Park

A Simple Natural Burial Service

It is important to us to ensure we offer a complete range of green funeral services. Natural funerals, direct natural burials and direct cremation with natural interment of cremated remains are all available. However, we understand that there is also a need for a simple natural burial that allows for a service for a limited number of people to attend, whilst keeping costs as low as possible.

That’s why we have developed our Simple Natural Burial Service. To allow for close family to say goodbye in person, without having to pay for a burial plot.

This is a limited service allowing The Natural Burial Company to reduce costs as much as possible. Accordingly, the plot is selected by The Natural Burial Company as is the time of the service. Up to 6 people can attend the interment and the rights to the grave are not transferred. These grave rights can be purchased at a later date though if you wish.

The total cost of the Simple Natural Burial Service is £2,250. This is an inclusive cost for all a complete burial service, including a Cardboard Coffin. You can also pay for a different coffin, and a Celebrant to conduct a service.

Further information is available at Simple Natural Burial Service  – Direct Natural Funerals (funeralsdirect.co.uk) You are also welcome to contact our team on (0116) 222 0247 or by email at any time.

Natural Burial Locations

Prestwold
Scraptoft
Wrottesley Park

Supporting Green Funerals

The Natural Burial Company have been working with our friends at The Association of Green Funeral Directors Home (greenfd.org.uk) to create a film to help improve awareness of green and environmentally friendly funeral services.

As we all become more environmentally aware, ensuring that caring for nature is also achieved when arranging a final goodbye to a loved one is ever more important. We can all rest with nature in a beautiful meadow or woodland, thus, leaving a natural legacy and ensuring a tranquil place to visit and remember.

This film is one of a series that are being produced to help explain the options available at time of need. Natural burial, environmentally friendly coffins and caskets, electric funeral vehicles, and floral tributes without using plastic or florist foam are just some of the ways in which a service can be personal and environmentally friendly. Full and Associate Members of The Association of Green Funeral Directors are all dedicated to caring for the bereaved, whilst caring for the environment and are available to provide such services and support.

This film, once completed, will be available on The Association of Green Funeral Directors website and on various social media channels. Links will be provided as soon as they are available.

Caring for the bereaved and the environment is key to everything we do at The Natural Burial Company. A complete range of natural burial services, including full funerals, celebrations of life, and direct cremations with natural interment of cremated remains can be arranged. Further details are available by contacting our team on (0116) 222 0247, emailing or visiting Homepage – Direct Natural Funerals (funeralsdirect.co.uk)

Natural burials and green funerals can be arranged throughout the country. Members of the Association of Green Funeral Directors, and other caring funeral directors would also be able to help provide information and services to help.

As well as The Association of Green Funeral Directors we would also like to thank Amy Perkins Celebrant Facebook Chris Meynell Family Funeral Directors Funeral Directors – Syston | Chris Meynell & Family Funeral Directors (meynellfunerals.co.uk) Ecoffins Ecoffins | Handcrafted, Enviromentally Friendly Coffins Prestwold Hall Leicestershire Stately Home – Weddings, Celebrations & Corporate Events (prestwold-hall.com) and Alan Barnacle Gravediggers.

Natural Burial Locations

Prestwold
Scraptoft
Wrottesley Park

Helping you to make an informed choice

When arranging a funeral service many people look for environmentally friendly options. But if the information you require is not available how do you know you are making the right decision?

For example, many “traditional” coffins have gold, silver or bronze coloured plastic handles. It is believed that up to 3 million of these single use plastic handles are used each year. Alternative handles, such as rope or wood, are available, but they are not always listed within a coffin range.

However, alternatives are available for both traditional and more modern styles of coffin and casket. Accordingly we are asking for all in funeral service to ensure that this open “informed choice” is available to all when arranging a funeral service.

To play our part in helping everyone to make an informed choice we now offer a new complete range of environmentally friendly coffins, caskets, and shrouds. For all coffins and caskets our website and literature will provide details of materials used and where it was weaved/made/manufactured. We believe that this will allow a greater understanding of not only the coffins available, but also the environmental impact they may have.

Furthermore, as supporting the bereaved and fighting funeral poverty is key to our ethos, we do make sure that our coffins, caskets and shrouds are fairly priced as well as being as green as possible.

Our range includes Cardboard, Bamboo, Willow and Woollen, as well as the Earthcare Coffin made predominantly using recycled paper and bark timber from FSC forests. We can also offer additional coffins upon request and are happy to provide the green credentials for all.

Whilst we offer a comprehensive range we do appreciate that you may have your own family funeral director that you may wish to use. Many funeral directors offer a comprehensive range of coffins and caskets and will be happy to help meet your requests. We allow all environmentally friendly coffins in our burial grounds.

We would welcome the opportunity to answer any questions you may have. Our team are available on (0116) 222 0247 or

Natural Burial Locations

Prestwold
Scraptoft
Wrottesley Park

Saying Goodbye Should Not Cost The Earth

You may have seen the recent SunLife Cost of Dying 2024 Report*, this provides a breakdown of average costs for funerals, including direct cremations and direct burials, nationwide.

At The Natural Burial Company we are concerned at these findings. Our ethos is simple, Care for the Environment, Care for the Bereaved, and Fighting Funeral Poverty. Accordingly whilst not only ensuring we provide environmentally friendly funerals to encourage nature and leave a natural legacy, we also ensure our pricing is fair and provides excellent value for money.

The SunLife survey states that the average cost of a “basic funeral” which includes a limousine and a midrange coffin is £4,141. A rise of 4.7% from the previous year.

The average cost listed by SunLife for a burial service is £5,077. For comparison a burial service provided by The Natural Burial Company, with a comparable coffin, new grave and interment fees (but no limousine) is £3,030 at our Prestwold and Scraptoft Natural Burial Grounds, and £3,200 at our Wrottesley Park Natural Burial Ground. Even adding the cost of an external celebrant (average £220) the Natural Burial Funeral Service costs £1,827 less than the average (£1,657 less at Wrottesley Park).

For Direct Burial the difference is even more stark, with the average cost listed by SunLife as £1,657 without third party fees such as the plot. The cost of the Natural Burial Company Direct Burial is £1,740, which includes the plot and all fees.

The cost listed for Direct Cremation is £1,498. This is below the Natural Burial Company cost. However, The Natural Burial Company charges include plot and interment fees, and the planting of 3 trees. The price is £1,750 with an unattended interment or £1,980 with a full graveside service/celebration of life, including tree planting.

We understand that money is tight for so many people and we want to do what we can to help at this most difficult of times. Accordingly, you are welcome to contact our team at any time on (0116) 222 0247 or by email

* sunlife.co.uk/siteassets/documents/cost-of-dying/sunlife-cost-of-dying-report-2024.pdf/

Further information regarding funeral services from The Natural Burial Company can be found here Homepage – Direct Natural Funerals (funeralsdirect.co.uk)

Prices correct as at 25th January 2024.

Natural Burial Locations

Prestwold
Scraptoft
Wrottesley Park

Survey shows public demand for greener funerals

A survey, conducted by The Natural Burial Company, has provided clear evidence of public demand for greener funerals, and for more information to be available regarding environmentally friendly funeral options.

There is clear evidence that many are looking to be more environmentally friendly in their lives. However, there has previously been little research regarding demand for green and environmentally friendly funerals. Therefore, The Natural Burial Company conducted a public survey between July and September, the results of which are clear.

The conclusions of the survey are simple. Many want a greater choice of greener options and transparency in information available. More information, and availability of green funeral options is essential. Allowing the bereaved an “Informed Choice” is key.

The survey asked 20 questions, with the opportunity to provide additional information regarding personal attitudes and opinions on green funerals.

Key findings from the survey are as follows.

73% of respondents stated that they would prefer to use the services of a funeral company that worked to strong environmental standards. A further 25% stated that they probably would.

98% of respondents believed that funeral service providers should have information readily available regarding green products and services. 67% thought this should be mandatory.

When asked “what would stop you from arranging an environmentally friendly funeral” 67% stated availability of services, 41% cost and 22% lack of knowledge/awareness.

Knowledge of the cost of greener funerals also clearly illustrates confusion amongst the public. 44% believed a green funeral to be more expensive and 25% less expensive than a traditional funeral service.

Regarding planning of their own funeral service, 56% have made no specific arrangements but stated that they want their funeral to be green.

When asked specific questions, 84% stated that they would select a coffin with “green” handles such as wood or rope, rather than the industry standard coloured plastic options. A further 5% answered that they would, dependent on cost.

This attitude also encompasses other related services. 83% said that they did not want floral tributes wrapped in plastic, and 75% would prefer not to have tributes in plastic trays or using florist foam/oasis.

Christopher Doggett, Managing Director of The Natural Burial Company said “It is clear that many wish for greener funerals, and want a greater understanding of what is available to them in time of need. Having a range of greener services and ensuring transparency regarding available options is so important”.

The Natural Burial Company will be conducting a similar survey in the summer of 2024 to gauge changes in demand and awareness.

For further information, including the full survey results, please contact Christopher at

With thanks to Lili, The Countryside Celebrant, and Rachel for the photograph.

Natural Burial Locations

Prestwold
Scraptoft
Wrottesley Park

Christmas and New Year Remembrance

In common with previous years, we will be relaxing our regulations throughout the festive period to allow tasteful, personalisation of graves using natural materials.

Between Sunday 10th December 2023 and Monday 8th January 2024, graves may be decorated, subject to items being appropriate to a natural burial ground and respectful to all within our care.

Please do not place items of sentimental or financial value on graves as The Natural Burial Company cannot be held responsible for damaged or lost items.

After 8th January 2024 any items remaining will be removed.  Therefore, please remove items from the grave before this date if you wish to keep them for future use.

Thank you for your help in maintaining the natural and environmental integrity of the natural burial ground.

Natural Burial Locations

Prestwold
Scraptoft
Wrottesley Park