Why the most precious letter of all is never read
A WHITE postbox has been installed at a crematorium, for people to post letters to their lost loved ones.
Bracknell Forest Council put up the box at Easthampstead Crematorium, off Nine Mile Ride, in February.
Already it is being well used, with a number of people posting ‘letters to heaven.’
When they lose someone important, people can experience grief in different ways.
Writing letters and expressing loss can help with the grieving process.
The council’s decision to install the white postbox at Easthampstead Crematorium was inspired by the story of a nine-yearold girl from Nottingham.
She wanted to express her grief after losing her grandparents, so her local crematorium put up a white ‘postbox to heaven’.
Within months, hundreds of letters had been sent.
“A number of crematoria have followed suit since,” said assistant director for contract services at Bracknell Forest Council, Damian James.
“We thought it was a lovely idea when we heard about it, and a fantastic way to engage, in particular, with young people who are coping with bereavement.
“But actually, the post box has had an impact on all ages.
“It has a much broader appeal than we first realised.
We’ve had some lovely feedback about how writing to their loved ones has helped people come to terms with loss at a difficult time.
“It’s given them something to focus on.”
None of the letters are read by staff at the crematorium.
“They are shredded and mulched, and turned into compost to feed the flowers in the beautiful, peaceful Easthampstead grounds,” explained Mr James.
“It’s a lovely garden, with green spaces and flowers.
“People have said how much they value the circular nature of this process, with their letters and their words eventually returning to the earth to feed the plants.”
The crematorium has also been giving away packets of wildflower seeds to mourners at services, to scatter somewhere with meaning for them.
“We’ve been doing this for about a year now,” said Mr James.
“We believe that the flowers and the post box to heaven are creating a positive experience for people, at what is a difficult time.”