Personal Goodbyes – Service, Care and Value for All

So much has changed in funeral service in recent years, there is rightfully a greater demand for more personalised service, care for the environment, and value for money. Direct unattended cremations have also increased, leading to online providers offering low cost services without an assurance of the overall care of the traditional funeral directors. We believe that everyone deserves service, care, and value, whatever the service required.

Therefore, at The Natural Burial Company we now have a range of services, ensuring Service, Care, Environmental Responsibility, and Value. We are calling this new range Personal Goodbyes.

Personal Goodbyes focus on the most important aspects of funeral service to ensure that everything is as it should be, without you having to pay for services that you don’t need. Whilst also knowing that you and your loved one are being cared for by dedicated, caring, professionals, who have the best interests of you and the environment at heart.

The Service provided is by experienced colleagues, passionate for doing the right thing. Nina and Christopher, two of our small but caring team, have nearly 70 years of experience in funeral service. Along with Cara who is relatively new to funeral service they provide truly personal care, whatever the style of service you require. Our services include meeting you in your own home if you wish, as we understand that this is where you are most comfortable. We also only conduct one full service a day, ensuring you have as much time as you wish to say goodbye. This also allows time for picnics in the summer and refreshments under cover at other times. Tea, Coffee, and Squash, is provided free of charge, and music via blue-tooth speakers can be arranged.

The document Saying a Personal Goodbye also provides ideas as to how a celebration of life or funeral service can be arranged in the most appropriate way.

As we understand that for a number of reasons you may wish to arrange a Cremation rather than a Natural Burial, Personal Goodbyes also offers cremation services, with three trees planted for each cremation conducted to counter the environmental damage of cremation.

Care for the deceased, the family, and the environment, is also paramount. We work with our partners to ensure the highest quality of care for the deceased. These partners are carefully chosen for their own service, experience, and the quality of their facilities.

We remain available to you at all times. This includes ensuring the continuity of the person making the arrangements with you being your point of contact throughout the arrangements, and being present on the day of the service. We believe that building this relationship and trust is essential. It is not right to suddenly be in the hands of a stranger on one of the most difficult days of your life.

Our Environmental Responsibility is taken extremely seriously as we do everything we can to care for nature. As mentioned above, we plant three trees (a minimum of 6.5 feet / 2 Metres in height, not whips as may be provided elsewhere) for each cremation conducted. All of our coffins, caskets, and shrouds are environmentally friendly and do not have plastic handles. All of our graves are prepared traditionally by hand. And whilst we use grass matting material to support the appearance of the grave, all of the materials used are recycled or repurposed.

Our Natural Burial Grounds are managed to ensure nature and biodiversity thrives. The planting of trees is the ultimate natural memorial as it provides a wonderful legacy for future generations, whilst also helping to protect the planet.

Finally, The Natural Burial Company believe that providing Value is essential. Yes, we are a business, but our focus is on helping the environment and those in time of need, not on profit or “shareholder value”. We would welcome any comparison regarding our prices, which are much lower than the averages you often read about in the media. We care deeply that we do the right thing, for the right reasons. This includes our pricing, with the cost of everything clearly explained.

We are proud of Personal Goodbyes and would welcome the opportunity to provide further information or send an information pack if you wish. You may contact us at any time by email or by telephone (0116) 222 0247.

Natural Burial Locations

Prestwold
Scraptoft
Wrottesley Park

Join us at our September Events

September is a busy month for The Natural Burial Company as we are attending a number of special events. And we invite everyone to join us at these events to learn more about environmentally friendly funeral services, and how we can support you and the environment.

Our Wrottesley Park Natural Burial Ground Community Gratitude Day on Saturday 13th September is an opportunity to meet with our team and learn all about beautiful Wrottesley Park. Refreshments, including cake, will be available, and free meadow flower seeds will be provided. Our team will even be able to help seed plots if you wish. The award winning sustainable florist Gate House Florals Gate House Florals: Shropshire Florist & Flower Farmer will also be present and will be demonstrating making a floral tribute. There is still space available for other green focussed community groups and companies. For further information please contact us at

On Saturday 20th September our team will be exhibiting at The National Space Centre, Leicester supporting The Good Funeral Awards. This year is the first occasion that the public can attend the exhibition which will also feature numerous other funeral service related companies and individuals. Further details of this prestigious events are available here Good Funeral Awards

The Natural Burial Company are proud to have been nominated for three awards at this event, Best Natural Burial Ground, Best Green Company, and the Lifetime Achievement Award for our Managing Director, Christopher Doggett.

The following day, Sunday 21st September, The Natural Burial Company will be present between 10.00am and 3.00pm at the Charnwood Sustainability Fair at Queens Park, Loughborough Charnwood Sustainability Fair – Charnwood Eco Hub This promises to be a fantastic event, highlighting green initiatives and fostering community collaboration, with entertainment, workshops, and a diverse range of local sustainable small businesses selling products and gifts.

Whilst our team would love to meet you at any of these events, please remember that if you are unable to attend, we are available at all times for support, advice, or to meet you at one of our natural burial grounds. We can be contacted on (0116) 222 0247 or by email

Natural Burial Locations

Prestwold
Scraptoft
Wrottesley Park

Direct Cremation, we can help

Direct Cremation is becoming an increasingly popular funeral service option. Such a service is low in cost, is simple, and allows the option of a celebration of life or memorial service at a later date.

However, there are many concerns regarding such services. Some online services are impersonal, you have no knowledge who is caring for your loved one, and you may not get the chance to say a proper goodbye. Accordingly, we always recommend that you use a funeral director who you know and trust. Most funeral directors now provide a direct (unattended) service.

The Natural Burial Company can also provide this service for you. As a company dedicated to caring for the environment we have concerns regarding cremation. However, we appreciate that for many reasons you may wish for a cremation, so we help to mitigate environmental damage by planting three trees for each cremation we arrange. These trees are a minimum 2 metres in height, not whips, and are planted at our natural burial grounds to help provide a beautiful place to visit and remember. Whilst also encouraging nature and ensuring a natural legacy. All services are arranged and conducted by our own dedicated team, and respect and care is of the highest standard, exactly the same as our Family Led Services.

After the direct unattended cremation we then arrange a Celebration of Life, Memorial, or Traditional Funeral Service, for the interment of the cremated remains on a day and time of your choosing. Ensuring that you, family, and friends, are able to say goodbye in your own, personal, way. This interment can include an officiant, music, and even a picnic if you wish. There are also no time constraints.

Whilst caring for you, your loved one, and the environment, we also ensure that our Direct (unattended) Cremation Service with Natural Interment of Cremated Remains is extremely cost effective. This fully inclusive service includes local Removal into our Care, a Jute or Cardboard Coffin, a Gown or Dressing in Own Clothes, and Care in Hygienic Conditions until the day of the Cremation. A Direct Unattended Cremation. An Interment Service at the Natural Burial Ground, Three Trees, and a Slate Memorial Plaque. The total cost of all of the above is £1,995. You can also arrange a Celebrant, Bamboo or Willow Cremated Remains Casket, and Shelter and Chairs for additional cost if you wish.

Further information is available here Direct-Cremation-with-Natural-Interment-of-Cremated-Remains-May-2024.pdf or by contacting our team directly on (0116) 222 0247 or

Natural Burial Locations

Prestwold
Scraptoft
Wrottesley Park

Nominations for The Good Funeral Awards, and Attending the Exhibition

The Good Funeral Awards, organised by the Association of Green Funeral Directors, is this year being held at the National Space Centre in Leicester on Saturday 20th September 2025. And for the first time the public are able to attend the exhibition. This exhibition will include funeral directors, natural burial grounds, celebrants, suppliers, and trade organisations. It’s a great way to learn about funeral service and get an understanding of green and environmentally friendly funerals, coffins, and services.

Tickets for the exhibition must be purchased in advance, these cost £5 which includes entry to the Space Centre. Further information and booking details can be found here GFA_Daytime_Entry_Exhibition_Tickets.pdf

The Natural Burial Company will be exhibiting on the day, we can’t yet confirm which members of our team will be present, but they will include Nina and Christopher.

We are also proud to announce that The Natural Burial Company have been nominated for several awards. And if we have provided services for you and you believe that we are worthy of a nomination you are very welcome to do so here Nomination/Voting Forms

We conduct the services in the manner that we do because we deeply care for the bereaved, the environment, and the community. So to know that we are helping to make a positive difference is truly humbling for us all.

Further information regarding The Association of Green Funeral Directors Home

Further information regarding The Good Funeral Awards Good Funeral Awards

Natural Burial Locations

Prestwold
Scraptoft
Wrottesley Park

Opening Your Own Natural Burial Ground

The Natural Burial Company are continuing to look to open new natural burial grounds throughout the UK. Our passion is to help provide personal, environmentally friendly services to all. Ensuring a beautiful place for future generations to visit and remember, and to provide a natural legacy.

Therefore, we are looking for appropriate opportunities to offer this most personal and green way to say goodbye to loved ones. Maybe you are a landowner, farmer, or funeral director who has been considering this? Or do you already operate your own natural burial ground and are looking for support or to retire? If so, please contact us and we can discuss the possibility of working together to help nature and the community.

If you would like further information, or to arrange a meeting, please contact Christopher Doggett, our Managing Director, at And please be assured that all information will be treated in the strictest of confidence.

Natural Burial Locations

Prestwold
Scraptoft
Wrottesley Park

Saying a Personal Goodbye

We understand the importance of ensuring that your final goodbye to a loved one is as personal and appropriate as possible.  For our Family Led Services we are here to help in every way that we can to make the service, be it a Celebration of Life, Memorial, or Traditional Funeral exactly as you wish for it to be.

Accordingly, we note below some ideas that you may wish to consider.  And please remember to allow yourselves time for thought and discussion.  Arranging a service for a loved one should not be hurried.

Things to consider.

  • Who will conduct the service, a Celebrant, Minister of Religion, Family Member, or a hybrid of services with a member of our team supporting.
  • Would Family and/or Friends wish to carry and/or lower the coffin.  This can be a very personal duty to perform for your loved one.  We will always provide colleagues to help and support.
  • Should there be a dress theme?  Wearing a particular colour is a simple way for everyone to pay tribute.  There are no rules, so rock band T-shirts, Football Shirts, and full themed services such as Harry Potter and Wild West have been arranged.
  • Music can be so special.  Favourite songs or complete playlists can be arranged. It is also becoming increasingly popular to have a playlist of favourites played in the background throughout the service.  We are able to provide quality Bluetooth speakers.  Alternatively, live music can be arranged, recent examples include a String Quartet, Harpist, and a Folk Band.
  • Likewise, favourite Poems or Readings can be incorporated into the service.
  • Do other members of the family or friends have happy memories they would like to share?  You may feel it appropriate to allow time within the service to invite everyone present to speak.
  • Did your loved one have a favourite tipple?  You can have a toast at the graveside, Whisky, Guiness, Fizzy Drinks, Mead, and a Cup of Tea have all been toasts in recent months.
  • If the weather allows you may wish to consider refreshments or even having a picnic.  We can provide picnic blankets and hot drinks to help support you.

As we only conduct one full burial at each natural burial ground per day remember that you have time to ensure that everything is as you wish.  We do not limit the service time and our team will be available to help and support, to ensure that your goodbye is as special as your loved one.

  • You can write personal messages on several of the coffins within our range.  Alternatively, we can provide Message Tags and Pens so everyone present can write a personal tribute and attach it to the coffin.
  • We can provide a table for photographs, letters, cards, and other special items can be displayed.

The above considerations are in addition to what you may think of as standard funeral options, which we can also provide on request.  This includes Coffins, Caskets and Shrouds, Hearse Options (such as Electric, Horsedrawn, VW Camper, Land Rover, and Motorcycle), Floral Tributes and Order of Service.

Please consider the service as a blank canvas on which you can create a personal, meaningful celebration or tribute.  Our team are available to help you with this to ensure that everything is as it should be at this most important of occasions.

Further information, advice, and support is available by contacting our team on (0116) 222 0247 emailing or by visiting our websites www.thenaturalburialcompany.co.uk and Homepage – Direct Natural Funerals

Natural Burial Locations

Prestwold
Scraptoft
Wrottesley Park

Eco-Friendly Funeral Services for Everyone

As we enter the New Year The Natural Burial Company continue to work hard to provide the best possible environmentally friendly funeral and burial services for all.

Caring for the environment, the bereaved, and providing personalised, cost-effective funeral services are essential to our ethos. And services can be arranged directly with our team, or through your funeral director. As we ensure that all services we offer to the public are also available to traditional funeral directors in order to help provide you with complete choice regarding funeral options – whether you wish to use our services, a traditional funeral director, or arrange a complete DIY service (we can offer advice and support if you choose this option).

Our natural burials include Full, Simple, and Direct (unattended) services to ensure we cater for all requirements. Whilst we also arrange and conduct Direct Cremation with Natural Interment of Cremated Remains services, as well as Cremated Remains interments and Memorial for those who may have been cared for elsewhere.

Our passion is to support the bereaved and the environment in every way that we can. This includes ensuring that only environmentally friendly coffins, caskets, and shrouds, may be interred in our natural burial grounds, and all graves are dug by hand. Our natural burial grounds are developed to encourage nature, support the environment, and ensure a beautiful natural legacy for those in our care.

You may visit our natural burial grounds at any time, and we welcome the opportunity to meet with you at your convenience. You may also select a grave in advance if you wish.

For further information please don’t hesitate to contact us on (0116) 222 0247 or by email alternatively visit our websites Natural & Green Burials – The Natural Burial Company and Homepage – Direct Natural Funerals

Natural Burial Locations

Prestwold
Scraptoft
Wrottesley Park

Weather Update, Monday 6th January 2025

As the weather conditions are currently challenging we wish to confirm the following.

All of our natural burial grounds are open, although it is recommended that you prepare for damp conditions underfoot (wellington boots highly recommended). There has been some flooding to our Prestwold access track, this is subsiding but we recommend that for the time-being you park at the first burial ground gates (beside the Prestwold sign) and use the public footpath – This information will be regularly updated.

We also understand that for many people leaving home may be difficult at present, therefore please remember that our team are always available to meet you in your own home. You don’t need to brave the cold or wet, let us come to you.

As always, our team are available to you at all times on (0116) 222 0247 and

Please stay safe and warm.

Natural Burial Locations

Prestwold
Scraptoft
Wrottesley Park

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