Natural Burial Sites
Offering a gradually growing appeal as an alternative
to cremation and church burial
Recently I visited a natural burial ground for the first time and was quietly impressed with what I found. My eyes were happily opened to an alternative method of burial or committal of the body. The conventional ways of committing a body are firstly cremation and secondly, and more traditionally, burial within the grounds of a church or chapel. Natural burial offers us a third option, one which is gradually growing in popularity.
What characterises a natural burial ground?
Generally, the natural burial site will be in open, countryside spaces, away from urban areas. For example, the one I visited was Bargoed Natural Burials at Saron, Llandysul, adjacent to the Carmarthen/ Newcastle Emlyn Road. Set up recently, in 2020, the site is surrounded by fields and open countryside. The natural burial site itself is part of a nature reserve (Allt-y-Garreg) comprising of four large fields, two of which are the burial areas. The other two fields can be used in time. Over 18,000 native young trees, and countless flowers, have been planted to date, which are transforming the feel of the space. You can feel the quiet ambience of nature when you walk around the site, following the paths through the trees. Over forty people have been buried there to date and there are several pre-paid plots within the site for whenever the person’s time will come.
Death is the end of the life of the body, which has served as our physical vehicle through all of life’s experiences. At death, the purpose of the body is complete, and it needs to be released appropriately. Via natural burial, the body is offered back to the Earth. As our body has been nourished by the Earth throughout life, so now, the Earth can be nourished through our dead body. A natural burial site does not permit any embalming fluids in the bodies it receives, nor any plastics. The body is buried in a soft wooden coffin, or even a shroud, both of which will naturally biodegrade, with the body, into the earth.
To be buried in a church or chapel burial ground by contrast, presupposes that the deceased followed the teachings of the church or chapel in life. A natural burial ground offers the same rite of burial to everyone, regardless of their faith, belief, or lack of it. Furthermore, natural burial grounds have far more capacity than, often overcrowded, church burial grounds, based on natural and sustainable principles.
At Bargoed, the burial site is marked by a simple stone inscription of the name of the deceased, and trees, bushes and flowers can be planted in their honour. Some graves have prayer flags, a photo or two and other nature-based memorials. Each grave site is protected by a 99-year lease.
Practically, the cost of a natural burial is around £1,200. In addition, there will be the costs incurred by a funeral director and a celebrant (presuming they are used) and the choice of coffin or shroud. Currently there are around 270 natural burial sites around the U.K. The standards in different ones can vary, so it is advisable to visit a few local sites local to ascertain whether a particular site appeals to you.
Bargoed Natural Burial Ground is open for people to visit seven days a week, other than when a service/ burial is taking place. We can walk around the site, upon the Earth, amidst the trees and appreciate the flower meadows. When our inevitable time comes, our body can also be offered back into the Earth, to naturally biodegrade and become one with the Earth, the trees and the flowers. The circle will be complete.
