Green Funerals

Natural Endings has a vast knowledge of the woodland burial sites available for use in the North West. We are pleased to offer advice regarding the benefits of each. We are regularly consulted for advice by new sites that are opening.

Our ability to help families to attain as green a funeral as possible is reflected throughout our personal and business practices.

With a few simple choices it is possible for a funeral to be a dignified, peaceful ceremony in harmony with the environment. A green funeral is the natural choice.

The first decision that must be made in relation to any funeral, whether it is a green funeral or not, is 'cremation or burial'. Whilst for some people there is definite preference for one or the other. For other people, the choice may come down to which is the more environmentally friendly.

There is, sadly, no definite answer. There is no definitive 'green funeral'. Cremation used to be considered the more eco-friendly option because of the reduction in use of open land for burial.

There are, however, concerns about the pollutants released into the atmosphere during the cremation process. Some crematoriums in the North West have now modernized and cut their emissions to nearly nil. With others there are simple choices that can be made to reduce the potential for harmful emissions released during the cremation process. We also keep informed about future green developments such as promession.

Woodland burial is increasingly becoming the environmentally friendly choice and the obvious choice for a green funeral. Having a woodland burial helps to create a protected piece of woodland for future generations. The general principal is that a biodegradeable coffin (cardboard, bamboo, seagrass, willow or sustainable wood) or shroud is used. At most woodland burial grounds a native tree is planted on (or close to) the grave. Often a flat memorial engraved stone or wooden plaque is used to identify the grave. The site is managed to encourage 
native wildlife, plants and wild flowers. Some grounds are privately owned or owned by nature charities. Others are areas in county council cemeteries.

There are woodland burial locations in Worsley, Mobberley (nr Knutsford), Bredbury (Stockport), Entwistle, two sites in Saddleworth, Bury, Much Hoole (nr Preston, Clitheroe, Liverpool and one on the Wirral. We also keep abreast of new developments such as another planned site in Liverpool. Another option is burial on a piece of private land. We have experience working with environment agencies to enable families to have burials on their own land.

We do not feel it is necessary to embalm everyone that we look after at our funeral home. Only very occasionally might embalming be needed. In order to ensure that you have a truly green funeral we do not use formaldehyde in our preparation process for green funerals. A new alternative, Aardbalm, is available. Aardbalm uses natural products to allow preservation for a short time before the funeral takes place. For further information click the link below.