The official opening of the Orchards at Prestwold Natural Burial Ground will be conducted by The Rt Hon Baroness Morgan of Cotes this coming Saturday, 9th September 2023.
Everyone is welcome to attend this event which will be accompanied by an open day between 12.00pm and 3.00pm. The opening ceremony will be at 1.00pm.
Refreshments will be available throughout the day and the Natural Burial Company team will be available to answer questions regarding natural burial, green funerals, and The Orchards.
It is the intention of The Natural Burial Company to ensure that The Orchards is developed to ensure the maximum possible benefit to the environment and the community. Accordingly, partnerships are being developed with community groups, and a sensory area is being prepared to provide sensory stimulation and many other benefits to many within society.
If you wish to visit The Orchards but are unable to attend on Saturday, or would like further information please email and our team would be happy to help.
In order to help The Natural Burial Company, and other funeral directors, to provide the best possible environmentally friendly services and information, we have prepared a survey to gain an understanding of public opinion regarding green funeral services. As such, we invite everyone interested to help us by completing this survey https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/2Q62ZGW
The survey should take approximately 10 minutes to complete and runs between August 11th and September 11th 2023, with the results published at the end of September. Allowing funeral service providers a greater insight into attitudes towards green funeral services.
All responses are confidential and there are no right or wrong answers. We are simply interested in your views and understanding regarding green funerals.
The Natural Burial Company are proud to announce that we have once again been nominated in the highly prestigious Good Funeral Awards.
This year we have to date been nominated in three categories – Best Burial Ground, Best Innovative Service (for our Direct Natural Burials), and Best Bereavement Awareness Support (for Wrottesley Park Environment Day). The nominations remain open until 31st July so we may also receive further nominations. This is a great honour for The Natural Burial Company as we care deeply for providing the best possible service to the bereaved and the environment.
We have been successful in previous years, winning Best Bereavement Awareness Day in 2019 and Burial Ground of the Year in 2021. We have also been honoured to have been nominated for awards in 2018 and 2022.
The Good Funeral Awards are presented annually in conjunction with the National Association of Green Funeral Directors, and nominations are received from those involved in funeral service and the general public. Accordingly, anyone can nominate those they believe have provided exceptional service in a number of categories covering all aspects of funeral service. This years event is being held on Saturday 23rd September at the National Conference Centre, Solihull, and further details of the event and how to nominate can be found here Home (agfdgoodfuneralawards.co.uk)
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.
We are proud to announce that The Natural Burial Company are now an Introducer Authorised Representative of Open Prepaid Funerals who offer fair, clear and transparent funeral plans.
Prepaid Funeral Plans from Open Prepaid Funerals Prepaid Funeral plans are now regulated by the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) and as such have very strict and stringent rules around their sale which are designed to protect you the consumer. We have chosen to become an Introducer Appointed Representative (IAR) of Open Prepaid Funerals who are authorised and regulated by the FCA as a plan provider Registered No: 962403 and who will handle all the regulatory and financial requirements around taking out your plan. Open were established in 2003 and have a very experienced team who will look after the financial aspects of the plan whilst keeping us on hand to ensure your personal preferences can be met and that we maintain our relationships with the families we serve. You can jump straight to The Natural Burial Company page on Open’s website to see the standard plans and prices simply click here https://www.openprepaidfunerals.co.uk/prepaid-funeral-plans/fd/3322
When it comes to planning a funeral, it can be a sensitive topic to navigate – especially if you are a loved one planning a service or ceremony for the deceased. That’s why it may be beneficial to consider the option of a prepaid funeral plan – as you can alleviate the emotional and financial burdens from your family and loved ones by planning and paying for your own funeral ahead of time. We believe it’s all about the personal touch – which is why here at The Natural Burial Company we have chosen to be an Introducer Appointed Representative (IAR) of Open Prepaid Funerals who can provide you with a suitable prepaid funeral plan for your needs. This relationship allows The Natural Burial Company to provide Open with our expertise and guidance on how the funeral is conducted whilst they set up a plan which can be tailormade to your needs and preferences.
About Open Prepaid Funerals Open Prepaid Funerals was formed in 2003 and provides a secure and transparent method of planning your funeral ahead of time. With a range of prepaid funeral plans to choose from, you can choose almost anything from a Simple Plan to something very detailed and unique or something as basic and low key as an Unattended Cremation plan to cater for your own preferences entirely. The cost of your prepaid funeral plan depends entirely on the funeral plan you choose your personal preference and the level of service that you require. The final cost of your funeral could include cemetery or crematorium fees, funeral notices, limousines, flowers, orders of service and many more elements to ensure your funeral is as personal as possible should you wish. The expert team of Open Advisers will talk you through this on the telephone, online using Teams or Zoom, by email or if appropriate face to face. The Open Prepaid Funerals Trust deed has been created in such a way that its purpose is to offer greater protection to you the plan holder and your family or representatives. We here at The Natural Burial Company will have the responsibility for the provision of your funeral on behalf of you through Open Prepaid Funerals.
Why Choose a Prepaid Funeral Plan? By choosing a prepaid funeral plan, this is a simple and practical way to let your loved ones know that everything is taken care of.
Some of the main benefits include:
Removes financial burden – as the funeral plan will be paid up front or in monthly instalments, this can reduce the financial burden on loved ones when the time comes.
Can alleviate emotional stress – planning your funeral beforehand alleviates the added stress, but also provides a caring solution to reduce emotional stress on your loved ones.
Funeral Director fees are fixed – although funeral plan prices may fluctuate due to inflation, by choosing an Open Prepaid Funeral plan, the price of the funeral directors professional services is fixed at the time the plan has been bought – meaning that your plan is safe for years to come.
Contribution to Core Disbursements – your contribution to disbursements is not currently guaranteed to there is a possibility that at the time of need, in relation to disbursements only, your family may have to contribute to the cost of these if the plan value is lower than the at need cost at the time.
Individual personalisation – by choosing a prepaid funeral plan, you can decide on the theme of your own funeral yourself and ensure that everything is to your taste and personal preference ahead of the time. By choosing a local independent funeral director with Open Prepaid Funerals, you can receive a high-quality experience along with the expertise required – allowing you to be safe in the knowledge your funeral is taken care of when the time comes. Simply get in touch with us and we will arrange an appointment with an Open adviser or you can contact Open directly on 0330 660 0072 to get the process started.
We understand that many people wish to temporarily decorate the graves of loved ones during the festive period, therefore, we will once again be relaxing our regulations during this time, to allow tasteful personalisation of graves using natural materials.
Between Saturday 10th December 2022 and Sunday 8th January 2023, graves may be decorated, subject to items being appropriate to a natural burial ground and respectful to all within our care.
We ask that you do not place items of sentimental or financial value as The Natural Burial Company cannot be held responsible for damaged or lost items.
After 8th January 2023 any items remaining will be removed. Therefore, please remove items from graves before this date if you wish to keep them for future use.
All of our burial grounds will be open to visitors throughout the Christmas and New Year period. Please remember though that conditions under foot and in car-parks may be slippery and uneven. Please stay safe and warm.
Throughout this period our team remain available to help and support everyone.
It is pleasing that so many people are now looking to arrange personal goodbye’s for loved ones. However, this can often be within traditional conventions and time constraints from service providers.
At The Natural Burial Company we believe in providing truly personal burial services to ensure that you say goodbye in the way you want, free from restrictions.
We only conduct one burial service each day. This allows totally flexibility on times and allows the option for a picnic or celebration at the grave side. Our team will remain available to help and support you at all times. Furthermore, these services do not need to be at traditional times and we can arrange burials on weekends, Bank Holidays, and in the evening. Torchlight services have also been conducted during the Spring, Summer and Autumn months.
The personalisation of the service itself can incorporate all aspects – a traditional motor hearse does not have to be used, and family and friends can act as bearers carrying and lowering the coffin/casket or shroud. The service or celebration can be conducted by a family member or friend rather than a minister of religion or officiant if you prefer. And we can provide a celebrant or simply act as “master of ceremonies” to help.
Our team can help you with putting a service plan together, and we would always recommend that there is an opportunity for those in attendance to share their own memories if they wish. Key is “getting it right”, not acting or speaking in a way that was not in keeping with your loved one. The best goodbye you can ever arrange is one that the deceased would have arranged for themselves.
Music also plays a big part in so many peoples lives, so what could be more appropriate than playing favourite or memorable songs, rock, disco, folk, punk, dance, it doesn’t matter. We have quality blue-tooth speakers so can prepare a playlist for you, or simply pass the speaker across for you to operate. Live music can also be played, recently we have had a folk group, guitarists, a flutist and even a harp playing at our burial grounds.
Environmentally friendly coffins, caskets and shrouds can be provided. These can also be decorated with flowers.
In summing up, our team work with you to ensure a genuinely personal service. All in keeping with our key ethos of care for the deceased and the environment, whilst keeping our charges as low as possible. We wish to do everything we can to help you to say goodbye in the most appropriate way.
You are welcome to contact us to discuss how we can arrange a personalised goodbye for your loved one, or to pre-prepare your own service for when the time comes. Our team can be contacted at or (0116) 222 0247.
Our natural burial grounds will be open to visitors over the Christmas and New Year periods for those who wish to pay their respects. We will also be available for enquiries and service bookings throughout the festive period.
In common with previous years we will also be relaxing our regulations throughout this period to allow tasteful personalisation of graves.
Between Sunday 12th December and Thursday 6th January, graves may be decorated, subject to items being appropriate for 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 6th January 2022 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.
May we also request that so as not to cause upset, if you spot clear contraventions of our policies please contact the office on (0116) 222 0247, please do not remove items from other graves yourself.
Finally, may we wish everyone a safe and peaceful festive period.
As you may be aware, restrictions on attending funeral and memorial services are being eased from Monday 17th May 2021. However, some restrictions do remain and we wish to confirm how this will impact upon burial and memorial services at our natural burial grounds.
We have carefully considered how we can maximize the number of people who can arrange a burial service, whilst ensuring that social distancing can be safely adopted at the burial grounds and in our car parks. Therefore, we are pleased to announce that from Monday 17th May a total of fifty (50) people may attend full burial services at our natural burial grounds. This is subject to social distancing being observed and all present abiding by the guidelines in place at the time of the service.
In order to help us prepare for services we request that we are provided with numbers attending in advance of any service if the number attending will exceed 25 people. This will allow our team to take the appropriate precautions. Confirmation of regulations and any additional requirements will also be provided to the funeral director or person arranging the burial at the earliest opportunity prior to the service.
With regards to services for cremated remains and memorial events such as tree planting, a maximum of thirty people are able to attend. Again, we will contact the arranger prior to these services to ensure that there is a clear understanding of the regulations and to ensure the highest levels of safety for those present.
We will endeavor to remove all restrictions on numbers at the earliest legal and practical opportunity. In the meantime we will work to see if we are able to increase the numbers who may attend services if this can be done safely. Please accept our assurance that we are dedicated to helping and supporting everyone attending services and visiting our natural burial grounds, whilst doing everything we can to keep everyone safe.
We can, and will, continue to do everything we can to help support the bereaved, encourage nature and ensure biodiversity. We are here for you at or on (0116) 222 0247.
We take great pride in the important role we play in caring for the bereaved and the environment, and are dedicated to doing all we can to help make a positive difference. Key to much that we do are our core commitments. We think it would also be beneficial to share these commitments with you:
Care and Support for the Bereaved
We will do whatever we can to help those in time of need. This includes our personal availability and the services we provide. We will only conduct one burial a day at each of our burial grounds, ensuring that there are no time constraints on services. We help support and advise on Family Led Services and DIY funerals. We can also provide shelters, chairs, a quality blue tooth speaker and refreshments (when Covid regulations allow) to ensure that a final goodbye is everything that it should be.
Personalised services can be arranged and themed funerals, picnics and evening torch-lit services have all been conducted. Grave plots can be chosen and a complete range of memorials is available, including trees and nature homes to ensure a natural legacy for future generations.
Care for the Environment
Caring for the environment is one of the biggest challenges we all face today. As such, our burial grounds are developed and managed to encourage nature and make a positive difference to the environment. Natural burial is so much more environmentally friendly than cremation and traditional burial, and helps ensure beautiful, natural areas for the future.
Trees are essential to the balance of nature and play an enormous role in removing damaging particles from the air, helping flood control, supporting many life forms and providing a calming and positive place to visit. Promoting bio-diversity also ensures habitats for so many forms of life, essential to our planet.
We will care and develop our burial grounds with a light touch to allow nature to thrive, with the associated benefits for us all. And, within time, all of our burial grounds will be left to nature as woodlands and meadows for the benefit of all.
Fighting Funeral Poverty
We understand that funeral poverty is very real for so many people. Therefore, we are committed to ensuring that our prices are low, ensuring burial services and memorials are available for much lower costs than many traditional cemeteries.
We can help and support simple family led services to minimise costs at what is already a difficult and stressful time. And are available to advise how other costs can be reduced.
Our Direct Natural Burial Service also allows a simple, cost effective burial, with all of the advantages of direct cremation. Whilst also supporting the environment and ensuring a beautiful place to visit and remember.
Helping Future Planning
An increasing number of people are looking to plan, and in some cases pay for, their funeral service. This allows peace of mind and removes the financial burden and/or the worry of making the wrong decisions for those left behind. Future planning also ensures that any special requests you have are not forgotten. This could be personalisation of a service with a theme, alternative transport (a VW Camper or Horse Drawn Hearse for example), or music. Alternatively putting “money behind the bar” for family and friends to enjoy a toast and share memories of good times.
Burial plots can be chosen and paid for in advance (at today’s price) and we can help you to prepare documents detailing personal wishes. Many people find that this process is not morbid, rather is a positive and enlightening experience. And the plans for your final goodbye can be amended as you find new music or enjoy new hobbies.
Our team are here for you and for the environment. If we can help in any way, or if you would like further information regarding our commitments and services, you are welcome to contact us on (0116) 222 0247 or by email
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