We recently had the pleasure of talking to Amanda from Wyldwood Willow who was at our natural burial meadow in Usk Castle Chase for a socially distanced 'willow coffin workshop'. She has put together a few words for our guest blog about her coffin making workshop, which helps families who want something a bit more personal and unique...

​​We have added our details to the test and trace app. There are individual QR Codes for each of the Natural Burial Ground in England and Wales. Please feel free to share these for family and friends who may be visiting or attending a funeral to help keep everyone safe. In Scotland we are also following the Test and Protect Guidelines, if you are attending a funeral some information may be requested to ensure these are being followed. 

Stay safe and stay well,  you can find the NHS QR Codes for our natural burial grounds in Wales and England in this blog.

You can find our up to date guidance on funerals, visiting the natural burial ground and coronavirus  here...

​Usk Castle Chase is well known for offering families peaceful and beautiful resting places in beautiful Monmouthshire countryside. The natural burial meadow is also somewhere private to hold a different type of send off, perhaps one that is simpler and closer to nature. It's a place where families can be as modest or extravagant, traditional or off-beat, celebratory or ceremonial as they wish - with the freedom to choose what they want.

When someone becomes a part of the natural burial ground they become a part of its history and we are often privileged to hear about their life history, who they were and why a natural burial was right for them. Occasionally, during these conversations, their own family members even find out something about their life that they never knew, a hidden gem that conjours up a smile. ​

​We thought it was about time that we shared some of our hidden gems that maybe even people who have visited the burial ground never knew about.

We recently had a catch up with celebrant Deborah Morgan Lewis of Morfa Civil Ceremonies who has been right in the centre of organising funerals during the Covid-19 pandemic. Deborah is based in Cardiff and has conducted natural burials at our natural burial grounds in both Cardiff and Usk. 
 
We wanted to discuss how she has been finding the changes that have had to be implemented and how this had impacted on funerals. What came across, when we discussed this, was that socially distanced funerals don't have to be impersonal; in fact, they can be much more intimate and rewarding.

With current restrictions limiting the number of people that can attend funerals and burials, we know that some families are choosing to have a memorial service at a later date for all their family and friends. We are fortunate that we can offer families an intimate funeral at present, with plans to arrange a memorial service at the natural burial when larger gatherings are once again safe. For those who are thinking of arranging a memorial, we wanted to share with you our 'top 10 ideas for a natural burial memorial'. 

Recently we have been updating our stories and wanted to share the story behind the natural burial ground at Usk Castle Chase, including some of it's hidden history...