Tag: scraptoft

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

Remembering and Paying Tribute – Our Covid Memorial Woods

The Covid crisis has impacted upon us all.  Many have lost their lives to this virus, a situation made even worse as we have not always been able to say goodbye.  It continues to be an awful time of fear and caution for us all.

Throughout this crisis there have been so many heroes, frontline workers working in healthcare, our supermarkets, the emergency services and so many other important roles.  We owe so much to so many.

The Natural Burial Company have worked hard to support the bereaved throughout the crisis but also realise that this unique situation has changed all of our lives.  For many the world will never be the same again.

So we believe it appropriate to provide our tribute, in remembrance of those who have passed as a result of covid.  But also to say thank you to everyone who has worked so hard to help people through this awful time.  There are so many unsung heroes who have given their time, their service and in some tragic cases their lives.

Therefore we will be planting and dedicating new woodlands at each of our burial grounds to honour everyone whose lives have been impacted by the virus, and to pay tribute and respect.  These woods will be places of remembrance, but also of hope, love and thanks.

The woodlands will be planted and dedicated in special ceremonies next year.  These ceremonies will be public events and we will be advertising details in advance.  Everyone will be welcome.

However, we do require your thoughts as to appropriate names for these special woods.  Therefore, we are asking for suggestions for each of these remembrance areas.  Please let us know your thoughts, and also make it clear for which burial ground you wish to name the wood – Prestwold (near Loughborough), Scraptoft (Leicester) or Wrottesley Park (Wolverhampton).

Thank you

Prestwold in Spring

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

Beautiful Autumn

Autumn 2017 1.(1)Autumn is here and the beauty of our natural burial grounds continues.  The mornings are stunning, crisp underfoot with little to hear but birdsong.  Truly wonderful places to remember away from the hustle and bustle of daily life.  Our burial grounds remain open throughout the year and all are welcome to visit to remember in an area of peace and tranquillity.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you would like further information or wish for a guided visit to one of our burial grounds.  We are here for the environment and for you.

Natural Burial Locations

Prestwold
Scraptoft
Wrottesley Park

Finalist at Good Funeral Awards

We are proud to announce that our Scaptoft Burial Ground has been nominated as a finalist in the Best Burial Ground in the UK category in the Good Funeral Awards.  It’s a great honour to be nominated and we look forward to the final at the Porchester Hall in  Bayswater, London on Thursday 7th September.

 

Natural Burial Locations

Prestwold
Scraptoft
Wrottesley Park