We’re a close-knit team of management, dedicated custodians, landowners, and gravediggers. We work with a trusted network of funeral professionals and enjoy long-standing relationships with reliable suppliers and service providers.

We aim to be thoroughly professional and reliable, but compassionate too. As a family-run business, we never forget that we are in contact with people at the most difficult moments in their lives.

We are now world leaders in sustainable meadow burials. We use digital technology and robust surveying techniques to precisely record the locations of graves at our burial grounds.

How it started

In 2002, we were organising a funeral for Elizabeth Leedam – James’ aunt. This was not going to be yet another trip to the crematorium. We’d heard about woodland burials but had no idea where to go or what to do. Our experience revealed how different a funeral could be, and how much better we could all feel.

We are so grateful to Rosie Humphreys, our first landowner, for her vision at Usk Castle Chase, to our early adopters – Nicki and Cass Castello amongst others – for their inspiration and encouragement, and to our wonderful landowner partners and custodians for their faith and support.

Read more about the story behind Leedam

Our promise

We’ll provide places of peace and wellbeing - unspoilt landscapes, free from clutter, with nothing to jar or disturb the eye.

Trustworthy

People come to us at the most difficult and vulnerable times in their lives, and trust us with the care of their most precious relatives. We value your trust and promise to treat you with compassion.

Real

We value keeping things real - connecting with nature, embracing the natural cycle of life and death, the changing seasons, and the hope they bring.

Sustainable

We plan for a secure and sustainable future. We respect habitats and steward the land with love and care. We tread with the lightest of footsteps and make choices for tomorrow’s generations. We use natural, biodegradable and recyclable materials.

Our Team

James Leedam

Founder/Director

James is the founder and director of Leedam. He is keen to talk to you about working together to create a new burial ground.

Elaine Leedam

Office & Accounts Manager

Elaine is James' wife and knows about all aspects of the burial grounds and manages the office and accounts.

Rhi Leedam

Managing Director

Since a young age, Rhi has been involved with natural burials. Drawing on her background in digital technology and marketing, she now serves as the Managing Director of Leedam.

Tracy Richards

Burial Grounds Manager

Tracy is the day-to-day contact in the Leedam office. Contact Tracy about all burial ground arrangements.

Sam Mainwaring

Marketing Designer

Sam is the marketing designer and is responsible for the marketing of all the Leedam natural burial grounds. Sam would love to hear your stories and feedback.

Landowners and Custodians

Annabelle Traherne

Cardiff landowner and custodian

Duncan Grant

Delliefure Custodian

Malcolm Forbes

Lord Forbes - Cothiemuir Landowner

Rosie Humphreys

Usk Landowner & Custodian

Sally Cook

Bath Custodian
Sally Whitworth profile shot

Sally Whitworth

Aylesbury Landowner & Custodian

Sarah Wickham

Pembrokeshire Landowner & Custodian

Tessa and Jeremy Russell

Dorset Landowners & Custodians

Jane Scott

Hundy Mundy

Our Burial Grounds

Our natural burial grounds are set within some of the UK's most scenic locations. They are peaceful, natural places that allow you to honour the end of a life in ​the type of countryside you love.

View the locations
Aylesbury Vale Natural Burial Meadow Sunrise - October 2023
Aylesbury Vale
Buckinghamshire
Bath
Somerset
Cardiff
South Wales
Cothiemuir Hill neolithic stone circle - August 2023
Cothiemuir Hill
Aberdeenshire
Delliefure natural burial ground in August 2033
Delliefure
Strathspey
Dorset Downs
Dorset
Henley-On-Thames
Oxfordshire
Hundy Mundy
Scottish Borders
Wildlife pond at Pembrokeshire Natural burial ground
Pembrokeshire
West Wales
Usk Castle Chase
South Wales
Aylesbury Vale Natural Burial Meadow Sunrise - October 2023

Aylesbury Vale

Buckinghamshire

Bath

Somerset

Cardiff

South Wales
Cothiemuir Hill neolithic stone circle - August 2023

Cothiemuir Hill

Aberdeenshire
Delliefure natural burial ground in August 2033

Delliefure

Strathspey

Dorset Downs

Dorset

Henley-On-Thames

Oxfordshire

Hundy Mundy

Scottish Borders
Wildlife pond at Pembrokeshire Natural burial ground

Pembrokeshire

West Wales

Usk Castle Chase

South Wales

Interested in setting up a natural burial ground?

Are you interested in setting up a natural burial ground on your land in the UK? We’ll work in partnership with you to set up and manage the burial grounds. Feel free to get in touch with James to discuss further.

How can we help?