Tag: cost of dying

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

Challenging the Cost of Funerals

The Sun Life Cost of Dying Report for 2023 has now been published. This much respected annual report provides a comprehensive view of funeral costs and attitudes across the country.

This report provides extremely interesting information regarding funeral costs, including breaking down prices into categories and regional variations.

The Natural Burial Company is dedicated to supporting the bereaved, an aspect of this is ensuring that our services are well priced. We always try to ensure fair pricing, and strive to ensure personal, caring services to provide exceptional value for money. Therefore, we have taken the opportunity to study the latest Sun Life report and compare our prices against the published findings.

The average cost of a funeral service in the East and West Midlands is quoted as £3,892. It is noted that 1 in 4 people who arranged a funeral were surprised by the cost. Burial is on average more expensive than cremation with the average cost of a burial being £4,794.

Comparing The Natural Burial Company prices against the above the difference in cost and value is clear.

A full “Family Led” burial service arranged by The Natural Burial Company at our Prestwold or Scraptoft Natural Burial Grounds with a Cardboard Coffin would be £2,700. The same service at Wrottesley Park would be £2,870 – This represents a saving of £2,094 at Prestwold or Scraptoft, and £1,924 at Wrottesley Park against the quoted average price.

Even with a Willow Eco Coffin these prices only rise to £2,940 at Prestwold and Scraptoft, and £3,110 at Wrottesley Park.

These Natural Burial Company prices are for a complete burial service, with a new grave. Furthermore, only one burial is arranged a day so there are not the time constraints experienced at most crematoria and cemeteries. Further details regarding our burial services are available here Full Natural Burial – Direct Natural Funerals (funeralsdirect.co.uk)

The Sun Life reports also discusses the continued popularity of Direct Cremation services. The cost of such services can vary greatly, with some internet providers offering a service for less than £1,000. Accordingly the average cost is so much lower than standard cremations and burials, at £1,511.

The Natural Burial Company now offer a similar service. Although we believe it important to provide our own very personal level of service, support and care, even in these most simple of arrangements. We also include Interment of the Cremated Remains at one of our Natural Burial Grounds in the price of our Direct Cremations. Furthermore, as cremation is not as environmentally friendly as natural burial we will plant 3 trees for each Direct Cremation we conduct. Accordingly, whilst our costs are higher than the average at £1,750 for a Direct Cremation with Unattended Interment at a Natural Burial Ground, and £1,980 including a full Cremated Remains Interment Service or Celebration of Life. Again, we believe that this provides exceptional value when compared to the average price which is for a Direct Cremation only. Further details regarding these services are available here Direct Cremation – Direct Natural Funerals (funeralsdirect.co.uk)

The Natural Burial Company also believe in offering a Direct Natural Burial service for those who require the simplicity of an unattended service, whilst having a burial rather than cremation. The cost of this service is £1,740 and further details are available here Direct Natural Burial – Direct Natural Funerals (funeralsdirect.co.uk)

Of course, you may wish to use the services of your own family funeral director. We work with all funeral directors and will make the arrangements to meet your needs. Even in such a case you will find great savings when comparing plot and interment prices to the local council cemetery.

*Loughborough Cemetery charge £1,430 for the purchase of a Traditional Grave and Interment for an adult, or £1,230 for a Lawn Grave and Interment. Whilst these prices appear reasonable, they are doubled for non-residents of Loughborough and tripled for those who live outside of Charnwood. The cost of a full grave plot and interment fee at Prestwold Natural Burial Ground is £1,250.

At Gilroes Cemetery in Leicester the charges are £3,360 for a Traditional Grave and Interment for an adult, or £2,170 for a Lawn Grave. Again, charges are doubled for non-residents. The cost of a full grave plot and interment fee at Scraptoft Natural Burial Ground is £1,250.

At Danescourt Cemetery in Wolverhampton the charges for the above is £3,110, a 50% surcharge is also added for non-residents. The cost at Wrottesley Park Natural Burial Ground is £1,420.

Furthermore, The Natural Burial Company do not charge any additional fees for those living away from the area. Not only this, all plots may be personally selected and paid for in advance at todays price. Finally, it is worth remembering that a natural burial helps support the environment, provides a beautiful natural legacy, and ensures a tranquil, peaceful place for visitors to visit and remember.

For further information or to arrange to visit one of our natural burial grounds please call (0116) 222 0247 or email

Further information regarding the Sun Life Cost of Dying Report 2023 are available here https://www.sunlife.co.uk/siteassets/documents/cost-of-dying/sunlife-cost-of-dying-report-2023.pdf/

*All prices correct on 18th January 2023

Natural Burial Locations

Prestwold
Scraptoft
Wrottesley Park

Making a Difference and Saving Money

It is widely believed that the cost of burial is high.  For municipal cemeteries this can be true, as lack of space and other factors lead to ever spiralling prices.  However green burials are different, and beautiful, natural funerals can be arranged for a fraction of the cost.

At The Natural Burial Company we have been looking into burial prices in our local areas and have been surprised by our findings.  A green funeral at a natural burial ground is by far the most environmentally friendly funeral service available. However, as well as helping to care for nature and protect our future, natural burial will also save you money.

So to help you make informed choices we have listed below prices for each of our burial grounds compared to the local city/town cemetery.  To keep things simple we have compared full burials only.  Although similar comparative savings are available when considering cremated remains burials and memorial options.

Leicester

At our Scraptoft natural burial ground on the outskirts of Leicester a full burial plot is £750.  The interment fee (gravedigging and administration) is £435.  Therefore, the total cost of a new grave with interment is £1,185.

Compare this to the costs of a lawn grave at Leicester of £1,300 for the plot, and interment fees of £745 (total £2,045) for a resident of Leicester.  Fees for non-residents of Leicester are doubled (total £4,090).  A permit to erect a memorial adds a further £200.00

At Scraptoft, as at all of our burial grounds, you can also choose your plot and there are no additional charges, wherever you live.

Wolverhampton

Our Wrottesley Park natural burial ground close to Wolverhampton has larger overhead costs, hence is slightly more expensive than our other burial grounds.  However, whilst the plot cost of £890 and interment fees of £435 total £1,325 this is much less than the local cemetery at Danescourt.

The exclusive rights for a private plot at Danescourt costs £1,980, interment fees are £1,040 (total £3,020).  For a non-resident of Wolverhampton a 50% surcharge is added, making the total £4,530.  A memorial permit for a headstone adds £150.

There is a natural burial area at Bushbury, plots here are charged at £1,010 (add 50% surcharge for non-resident), the interment fee of £690 makes the total cost £1,700.

You can purchase a plot in advance, however an additional £150 is added for this.  No charge is made by The Natural Burial Company for choosing and purchasing a plot in advance.

Loughborough

Prestwold Natural Burial Ground near Loughborough was one of the very first natural burial grounds in the midlands, opening in 1999.  As such there are many areas and options available.  However, the vast majority of plots are priced as Scraptoft, £750 for the grave and £435 interment fees (total £1,185).

For a standard burial the local Loughborough cemetery charges £740 for a traditional grave and £498 interment (total £1,238).  A lawn grave option is available for a total for a Loughborough resident of £1,065.  Once the memorial permit cost (£158) is added, this then totals £1,223.  The memorial permit charge is also applicable for traditional graves.

As with many other cemetery authorities though, Loughborough charge additional costs for non-residents of the town.  A resident of Charnwood would need to pay double fees and one who resides outside of Charnwood would pay triple.  There is also no option at present to purchase plots in advance.

We provide this information to help you to make informed choices.  In a world where funeral poverty is real and value for money is so important for all, we believe that it is only fair that the public are aware of the options available. Everyone can make a real difference to the environment and leave a beautiful, natural legacy for future generations whilst saving money.

Note: All prices sourced from the relevant local authority websites on 9th June 2020.  We will gladly amend any pricing above if notified of change.

 

Natural Burial Locations

Prestwold
Scraptoft
Wrottesley Park