Natural burial ground extended
THOSE seeking eternal rest at one with nature have a new option at the borough’s only ‘green’ burial ground.
Eighteen months after its establishment, the expanse in Markfield has extended its offering.
Operator John Hooper has cleared a further section of the 15-acre site, adjacent to the first Sentry Oak funerary area, to create Poplar Grove.
With tall lines of graceful trees forming elegant rows, the grove is a serene sanctuary, providing shade and dappled sunlight.
Aimed at people looking “to leave less of a footprint on the environment” the burial ground was opened at Ashley Woods in April last year.
Things started slowly but, as word spread, more people were drawn to the idea of an ecofriendly ceremony, complete with lower costs and less fuss and formality.
Natural burials essentially involve an unembalmed body being laid to rest in a biodegradable coffin or shroud in a hand-dug grave.
The grave isn’t marked with any man-made object but planted with a memorial tree and/or wildflowers, becoming “a living, breathing legacy” to be enjoyed by visitors and wildlife. People can involve professional funeral directors or take care of the ceremony themselves.
John, whose parents both had natural burials, said: “Things are going well and we now have a very smooth operation for the actual ceremony. To be fair, it is a fairly simple thing to organise, with not many elements, but we have worked out a very smooth way to work.
“The funeral directors and pall bearers like it also - especially that we use a funeral bier to transport the coffin across the ground to the grave site. Given that this can be a journey of around 100m, they are glad not to have to shoulder the coffin for the distance.
“We also put up a gazebo for each ceremony - not only does it give a bit of shelter from both rain and sun - but it also gives a focal point for the mourners to gather around, and for the celebrant to be at the centre of attention.”
So far there have been 22 burials and advance purchase of burial rights have been popular as people look ahead to get arrangements in order and ensure their wishes are carried out.
According to a recent council report the borough has an estimated annual mortality rate of around 1,000 people, with 75 per cent of them cremated and 25 per cent buried.
Taking into account all civicrun cemeteries across the borough there are an average of 216 burials a year, some in new graves, others in existing family plots. These figures do not include ecclesiastical churchyards.