Tag: direct cremation

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

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

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

A Celebration of Life

The ways in which we say goodbye to loved ones are becoming more personal. With a greater awareness of environmental issues, fewer religious services, and a greater desire for more personalised goodbyes, celebrations of life are growing in popularity. Full burial services, and natural interments of cremated remains after direct cremations are now regularly arranged.

At The Natural Burial Company our passion is to provide a totally personalised service to meet your needs, in line with our ethos of caring for the bereaved, the environment, and keeping prices low.

At each natural burial ground only one full burial a day is conducted, which allows as much time as you wish for the celebration or service. This time can be used for a picnic, listening to music, or simply spending time remembering your loved one. The Natural Burial Company can provide shelters, chairs, simple refreshments, and a quality Bluetooth speaker. We can also help to prepare the celebration or service, and act as master of ceremonies if you wish. A list of exceptional celebrants is also available to help conduct the service and we also work with all local ministers of religion and officiants. Key to everything, is ensuring that the goodbye is exactly as you wish it to be.

You do not have to have a traditional hearse and a discreet vehicle is used by most families. Although we are also able to provide Horse Drawn, Motorcycle, or other hearses. An Electric Hearse can also be supplied.

There are now a large selection of environmentally friendly coffins, caskets and shrouds available. From Cardboard to Bamboo, Willow, Banana Leaf and Pandanus. Likewise, Ashes Caskets are available in a large of beautiful environmentally friendly materials. Our supplier has the same ethics as us, and are a Guaranteed member of the World Fair Trade Organisation (WFTO).

Direct Cremation is becoming an increasingly popular option, allowing cost savings and for a celebration or service to be conducted at the natural burial ground on a day and time convenient to all who wish to attend. This could be on a special day such as an anniversary, or you can simply wait for warmer weather in order to allow a picnic if the death occurred in winter.

However you wish to celebrate the life of a loved one our team are here to help. We can provide advice, support and guidance to ensure everything is as you wish it to be. We can be contacted on (0116) 222 0247 or email

Natural Burial Locations

Prestwold
Scraptoft
Wrottesley Park

Our New Natural Burial Ground, The Orchards at Prestwold

We are pleased to announce that our new natural burial ground, The Orchards at Prestwold, is now available for full burials and interments of cremated remains. Situated close to Loughborough, the natural burial ground is easily accessible from Charnwood, Leicester, Nottingham and throughout the Midlands. In fact, as there are no additional fees for non-residents anyone can purchase a plot at The Orchards.

This new natural burial ground is being lovingly developed to ensure a beautiful resting place, ensuring a natural legacy for those in its care, and a tranquil place to visit and remember. All burials will be conducted ensuring care for the environment, nature and biodiversity.

Trees are currently being planted to encourage wildlife and a sensory area is also being developed for nature and visitors alike. Burial plots may be selected in advance, and a tree planted for a natural legacy. Alternatively, meadow plots can also be chosen, ensuring beautiful views of the countryside.

The Orchards will ensure sufficient space is available for natural burial for decades to come, allowing plots to be selected and paid for many years in advance.

Full services can also be conducted at The Orchards, with Shelters, Chairs and music provided. The Natural Burial Company can also supply refreshments if required, or you can bring your own picnic to celebrate the life of your loved one. Only one service is conducted a day, so there are no time constraints.

For further information, or to arrange to visit The Orchards, please email info@thenaturalburialcompany or telephone us on (0116) 222 0247.

Natural Burial Locations

Prestwold
Scraptoft
Wrottesley Park

Direct Cremations from The Natural Burial Company

Whilst our ethos is to provide natural burials we realise that for many reasons people may require cremation services. We are noticing many are opting for a direct cremation, and then arranging a natural burial for the cremated remains. As such, we believe it appropriate to provide the most environmentally friendly option we can for those who require a direct cremation and then arrange a natural legacy for future generations.

Therefore, we are now able to provide a complete direct cremation with natural interment of cremated remains. Arranged and conducted by our own caring, trusted team. For each cremation we will plant three trees, one on the grave and two others at one of our natural burial grounds.

To help we now have a new website Direct Natural Funerals (funeralsdirect.co.uk) to provide information and to offer direct cremation and direct natural burial services.

As we are dedicated to supporting the environment our direct cremation services must be followed by a natural interment of cremated remains. This interment can be a private event or a full service or celebration of life. Our aim is to provide a truly personal goodbye and provide a beautiful natural memorial and legacy, whilst keeping costs to a minimum.

There are many benefits to our direct services.

Cost – Direct services are below that of “traditional” funerals. Direct natural burials cost £1,690 and direct cremations with natural interment of cremated remains (including the planting of three trees) is available from £1,750.

Convenience – Whilst the direct (unattended) cremation is conducted at the earliest opportunity, the interment can then be arranged at a later date convenient for all. For example, a celebration of life could be arranged on a special date or when the weather is warmer. The celebration can include a picnic, music or anything personal to make a truly special goodbye.

Peace of Mind – Many direct services are arranged by web based companies. Our services are all arranged and conducted by our well respected team. We provide exactly the same level of care and service for all of our clients.

Caring for the Environment – Caring for the environment is key to everything that we do. We only use environmentally friendly coffins for all of our direct services. And we plant three trees for each direct cremation conducted.

A Natural Legacy – Trees planted will provide a beautiful legacy that will also help support the environment. All of our burial grounds are managed with a light touch to encourage nature and promote biodiversity.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you require further information, we are here to help you.

Natural Burial Locations

Prestwold
Scraptoft
Wrottesley Park

The Advantages of Direct Natural Burial

Providing beautiful, environmentally friendly, cost effective burial services in a peaceful woodland or meadow setting.

In recent years there has been an increase in direct cremations, initially due to high profile funerals such as that of David Bowie.  More recently the covid crisis has necessitated this option for many in society.  The advantages of such a service are clear, the cost is much below that of a traditional funeral and greater emphasis can be placed on what may be seen as more appropriate ways to remember and celebrate a life.  Especially for those who are not religious.

However, it is not well known that direct natural burial is also available.  This allows the cost and simplicity advantages of direct cremation whilst also ensuring the greatest possible care for nature and the environment.  This also allows the opportunity for family and friends to visit a beautiful area of peace and tranquility to remember their loved one.

So what is a direct natural burial?  Put simply, the burial is conducted with the usual care and respect at one of our natural burial grounds, but without a service and with no mourners present.  The Natural Burial Company would choose the grave plot and this would remain unmarked.  The family would be aware of the burial ground, but would not be informed of the exact location of the plot.  However, a memorial tree and/or plaque may be purchased and be placed in our memorial area.  The grave plot may also be purchased at a later date, this would then allow for the grave to be identified and memorials to be placed on the grave if you wish.

As the service is simplified and the grave is not identified the cost is significantly less than for a standard burial plot.  This allows for funds to be available for a celebration, memorial service or other activity in remembrance.  As with all of our services we ensure that our care for the deceased, the bereaved and the environment is total.

A direct burial plot with gravedigging and administration fees is £780 at our Prestwold and Scraptoft Natural Burial Grounds and £850 at our Wrottesley Park Natural Burial Ground.  Additional charges will be made by your funeral director for other items such as the coffin, transport and their professional services.

For further information regarding direct natural burial please don’t hesitate to contact The Natural Burial Company or your funeral director.  We are here at all times to help you care for the environment, save money and ensure a beautiful natural legacy.

Natural Burial Locations

Prestwold
Scraptoft
Wrottesley Park