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

Introducing the Loop Biotech Mushroom Coffin

At The Natural Burial Company we are dedicated to providing personal celebrations of life and funeral services, whilst maximising our care for the environment. As such we are honoured to be able to now offer the world’s first mushroom coffin.

We are proud to announce our collaboration with Loop Biotech Loop Biotech – Let’s enrich nature and together we’re on a mission to make a positive difference.

Loop Biotech’s products are grown in just 7 days from local mushrooms (mycelium) and upcycled hemp fibres. By using these innovative materials, we return nutrients to the earth and allow new life to flourish.

Mycelium is nature’s ultimate recycler, transforming organic matter into vital nutrients that enrich the earth. The Loop living Coffin biodegrades in the soil in just 45 days.

We’re incredibly proud of this collaboration and look forward to making a positive impact together with Loop Biotech. For further information please don’t hesitate to contact us on (0116) 222 0247 or 

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

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

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

Caring for the Environment, and Saving Money

We care passionately for the environment and for those in our care.  We also do everything we can to support the bereaved and to eliminate funeral poverty.

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, often 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 the 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 £770.  The interment fee (gravedigging and administration) is £450.  Therefore, the total cost of a new grave with interment is £1,220.

Compare this to the costs of a lawn grave at Gilroes Cemetery, Leicester of £1,312 for the plot, and interment fees of £752 (total £2,064) for a resident of Leicester.  Fees for non-residents of Leicester are doubled (total £4,128).  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 £900 and interment fees of £450 total £1,350 this is much less than the local cemetery at Danescourt.

The exclusive rights for a private plot at Danescourt costs £2,030, interment fees are £1,040 (total £3,070).  For a non-resident of Wolverhampton a 50% surcharge is added, making the total £4,605.  A memorial permit for a headstone adds £150.

There is a natural burial area at Bushbury. Plots here are charged at £1,100 (add 50% surcharge for non-resident), the interment fee of £690 makes the total cost £1,790.

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.  A full burial plot is £770 and interment fees £450 (total £1,220).

For a standard burial the local Loughborough cemetery charges £777 for a traditional grave and £523 interment (total £1,300).  A lawn grave option is available for a total for a Loughborough resident of £1,118.  Once the memorial permit cost (£166) is added, this then totals £1,284.  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 everyone should be aware of the options available to them. 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 local authority websites July 2021.  If corrections are required please inform us and we will make immediate changes.

Natural Burial Locations

Prestwold
Scraptoft
Wrottesley Park

Natural Burial during Covid – Update 14th May 2021

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.

Natural Burial Locations

Prestwold
Scraptoft
Wrottesley Park

The Great Big Green Week – Working Together, Making a Difference

Caring for the environment is key to everything we do.  Therefore, we are very proud to have joined The Great Big Green Week which will be taking place countrywide in September.

At each of our burial grounds, Prestwold (near Loughborough), Scraptoft (Leicester) and Wrottesley Park (Wolverhampton), we will be holding an event to raise awareness of environmentally friendly funeral services, whilst also supporting local green community groups.

And we are inviting companies, groups and individuals to join us at these events so we can all make a difference.

Funeral Directors, Florists, Celebrants and Suppliers – Do you provide environmentally friendly services?  If so, why not join us?  We want to help people to be aware of the choices they  have for ensuring a green send off for themselves or their loved ones.

Community Groups – Are you an organiser for, or a member of, a community group with an environmental focus?  We would love to have you at your local event.

Local Walking Groups – We wish to arrange a walk at each of our events.  Would your group like to lead this walk?

Wildlife Groups – It would be great to have you attend to promote your work.

Have we missed you out? – If you are interested in supporting The Great Big Green Week and have something to offer but don’t fit into the above, no problem.  We would love to talk to you about what you can offer.

For further information or to express an interest please contact Christopher by email at   It would be great to have a broad section of bereavement service and community groups present.  And of course, everyone is invited to attend.

Further details regarding events nationwide can be found www.greatbiggreenweek.com

Together we can make a difference.  Thank you.

 

Natural Burial Locations

Prestwold
Scraptoft
Wrottesley Park