Finding a natural burial ground

How many natural burial grounds are in the UK?

There are 300+ natural burial grounds across the UK. As people are finding about natural burial. That it is much more sustainable and eco-friendly. That it can be much more personal and less restrictive. We are discovering it’s becoming a really popular choice. With increasing popularity, it’s not surprising to hear that natural burial ground numbers are rising across the UK. This includes burial meadows and woodland burial grounds, sometimes called green burial sites. What’s important is that you find a natural burial ground you feel is right for you.

At Leedam we have 10 natural burial grounds we have set up and manage in partnership with our landowners and custodians. Leedam is a family business in every sense. We all take a personal interest and care in what we do, and look after the families who place their trust in us. We started managing natural burial grounds in 2002 and are now world leaders in sustainable meadow burials.

What is a natural burial ground?

A natural burial ground is a place that works with people and nature to offer beautiful, natural resting places in a truly natural setting. These range from meadows to memorial gardens. From existing woodland to land dedicated to becoming new woodland. From nature reserves within towns to wild, open country. Not to be confused with a ‘natural burial area’ offered in the corner of an existing traditional cemetery or graveyard.

Our natural burial grounds are a beautiful and sustainable alternative to traditional cemeteries and crematoriums. Set within some of the UK’s most scenic locations. They are peaceful, natural places that allow you to honour a loved one’s life in your own special way.

How does a natural burial ground work?

Natural burial grounds work by using eco-friendly practices. This encompasses the management of the burial ground and any funeral arrangements made.

They ensure materials are environmentally friendly and biodegradable. They encourage the use of sustainable materials and support people with advice when planning a green burial. Harmful chemicals like formaldehyde (used in traditional funeral practices like embalming and MDF/chipboard coffins) are not permitted. Natural burial grounds work with native habitats including grassland, meadow and woodland. Their creation focuses on how they can protect these spaces and work with them. rather than removing vital habitats to make way for tarmac roads, headstones or stone-filled graves which destroy native habitats. By protecting native habitats natural burial grounds help to protect all the wildlife using them.

They offer a more relaxed setting for funerals without time restrictions or back-to-back funerals, often seen in crematoria. Families have time and space to plan a personal send-off or celebration of life. This can include touches like bringing the dog, a final journey on the tractor or raising a toast.

Sustainable management is also an important part of how a natural burial ground works.

How is a natural burial ground managed?

Natural burial grounds vary in style and approach, including the management of a burial ground. It’s important you are happy with this, what you can and cannot do at the natural burial ground and how the land is secured for the future. Every natural burial ground is different, so the best way to find this out is to ask the natural burial ground you are considering.

At Leedam our ethos is to keep things, simple, natural, and beautiful. Our aim is to encourage more personal funeral services that have as little harmful effect on the environment as possible.

There are commitments and promises we make to our families and to those who are resting with us. This is so they know we care for the natural burial ground and their loved ones in the best way possible. There are rules and regulations that people agree to when choosing to use us. This means they can decide if it’s the right place for them. It also means those who choose to use us have peace of mind knowing exactly how we manage our burial grounds and what they can expect.

Ultimately, each natural burial ground is different with its own feel. This is why we always suggest that people visit our natural burial grounds first to make sure it’s where they want to be. You can walk around, meet the custodian and ask any questions you want to know.

Find a natural burial ground

You will find a list of our natural burial grounds below. These are based across the UK in Scotland, England and Wales. While we have included a bit of information find more information about each natural burial ground on our website.

A list of our Natural Burial Grounds the UK

Aylesbury Vale Natural Burial Meadow

Aylesbury Vale Natural Burial Meadow at Little Meadle is part of the beautiful Buckinghamshire countryside. The burial meadow is surrounded by gently rolling hills with views of the Chilterns and Coombe Hill Monument. It’s a place where families can take their time and plan a funeral or burial that is right for them. You have the freedom to add personal touches like bringing the dog or using a tractor for the final journey. You can organise an outdoor wake after the burial with a marquee and vintage trailer for refreshments. Or you can keep things simple and plan a no-fuss funeral. The choice is yours.

The burial meadow offers natural burial & interment of ashes. Families can plant a memorial tree or place a commemorative plaque in the chestnut frame beside the pond. It is a beautiful place to sit & remember those we love. It’s also home to lots of wildlife. Dogs are welcome, but please keep them on a lead.

Find out more about Aylesbury Vale Natural Burial Meadow.

Bath Natural Burial Meadow

Bath Natural Burial Meadow lies within the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Surrounded by rolling hills, flower-rich limestone grassland, deep valleys & woodland it’s a beautiful natural place. Somewhere you can have a natural burial or ashes interment. Without the worry of time restrictions, you can organise a green funeral as you’d like it. You can choose to have memorial plaques in their frame within the meadow.

Just beside the meadow is the parking and next to this the pond. This is an area that helps to support a variety of wildlife. Above the pond is the restored orchard. It’s one of the green projects the meadow supports, restoring a lost habitat while protecting heritage apple trees. The orchard has also given families the chance to plant a tree in memory of a loved one.

Within the meadow and orchard, you will find natural benches. Places you can stop, sit & reflect. In the summer long grasses and flowers grow and sometimes you will find sheep grazing the meadow.

Find out more about Bath Natural Burial Meadow.

Cardiff & The Vale Natural Burial Meadow

Cardiff and the Vale Natural Burial Meadow is set within historic parkland which has beautiful views. These look out onto Cardiff, the Vale of Glamorgan, the Garth Mountains, Caerphilly and on a clear day even the Bristol Channel. The open meadow, surrounded by woodland, meadow and wildlife, is a very peaceful place. Somewhere families can choose to have a natural burial or ashes interment accompanied by bird song.

At the meadow, families have the time, space & freedom to plan a funeral as they wish, whether this is a religious or non-religious service. There is a beautiful oak frame memorial shelter where you can have a funeral and choose to place an oak plaque. You can also include ashes and pets’ ashes as part of a natural burial.

Around the meadow, you will find new oak trees and areas of woodland, planted to provide shelter and new native habitat. Sometimes you will find sheep grazing the meadow and dogs are welcome on leads.

Find out more about Cardiff & The Vale Natural Burial Meadow.

Cothiemuir Hill Woodland Burial Ground

Cothiemuir Hill Woodland Burial Ground is in the outstanding landscape of Donside in Aberdeenshire. It is part of the ancient pine wooded hill set within the Forbes Estate. At the centre of this hill is the Neolithic standing stone circle. This is a site that has been historically important for thousands of years, which the natural burial ground now helps to protect.

Among the glades, you can choose to have a natural burial or an interment of ashes. There is also the option to have a memorial tree or memorial stone. The glades are surrounded by trees planted when the natural burial ground was first opened. These have matured to become beautiful woodland helping to bolster the natural restoration of the ancient pine forest.

Amongst the beautiful countryside wildlife, which includes butterflies, red squirrels & pine martins, families can say goodbye as they wish. They can plan a funeral that is personal to them. This can be religious, non-religious or a simple no-fuss burial. They have the time and space to do as they wish.

Find out more about Cothiemuir Hill Woodland Burial Ground

Delliefure Cairngorms Natural Burial Ground

The natural burial ground at Delliefure is part of the Cairngorms National Park. Offering woodland burial and meadow burial the beautiful meandering meadow, flanked by woodland, makes it a perfect place for all. It gives people the space and time to do things their way. All are welcome those who are religious & non-religious. If you wish to have a memorial there is the choice of a Caithness slate memorial plaque in the glades, or rights to place a memorial stone within the woodland.

When visiting you may see deer roaming, osprey flying or otters swimming in the nearby River Spey. Beside the car park is a restored wildflower meadow. As you follow the path down you will find markers leading to the woodland trail. This is a beautiful walk that you can follow through the woodland that surrounds the burial ground. If you choose to, you can follow it down to the streams that run to the burn and rejoin the bottom of the meadow. Or simply admire the overlooking view of the Burn from the viewing area. It’s a lovely place to visit with dogs, family and friends and offers beautiful resting places in a number of different areas.

Find out more about Delliefure Natural Burial Ground.

Dorset Downs Natural Burial Ground

Dorset Downs Natural Burial Ground is near to Winterbourne Abbas and Compton Valence. Set in the beautiful Dorset countryside it has far-reaching views of the surrounding hills, meadow and woodland.

The natural burial ground is helping to restore lost wildflower pasture while offering peaceful, natural, resting places. Families have the space & time to plan a funeral that is right for them and the memorial shelter provides a space which families can use for funerals if they wish. You can also choose to place a memorial plaque here in memory of a loved one.

Their rustic bier offers families a special way to take a loved one over to the graveside. It also means family and friends can participate as bearers if they wish. All are welcome here, those who are religious and non-religious. You can include the whole family as funerals are pet friendly. While pets’ ashes can also be included as part of a natural burial.

Find out more about Dorset Downs Natural Burial Ground.

Henley on Thames Woodland Burial Ground

Henley Woodland Burial Ground lies within the Chiltern Hills Area of Natural Beauty in Oxfordshire. It is a beautiful, peaceful place surrounded by woodland and meadow. At the natural burial ground families can take their time and plan a funeral that is right for them. They can bring the dogs, hire a marquee or arrange a simple send-off at the graveside.

They support those who wish to have family-led funerals, as well as those arranging a funeral with the help of a funeral director. Families can place memorial plaques in the frame surrounded by maturing woodland. Each year new trees are planted across areas where burials take place, adding to the new woodland creation. Over time this will become a thriving mature woodland all can enjoy with open glades and woodland walks. The woodland is creating homes for wildlife too. It’s not uncommon to see a muntjac deer wandering through the trees or red kites flying above. On occasion, sheep graze the meadow.

Find out more about Henley on Thames Woodland Burial Ground

Hundy Mundy Woodland Burial Ground

Hundy Mundy Woodland Burial Ground sits upon a hilltop just south of Mellerstain House in the Scottish Borders. The woodland burial ground has views overlooking Mellerstain Estate. While the folly set within the woodland has an important historical connection to Mellerstain House. On the opposite side of the woodland are far-reaching views of the Cheviot Hills and surrounding countryside.

It is a peaceful, natural place; rich in wildlife, history and heritage. It offers beautiful resting places where families can choose to have a natural burial or an interment of ashes. Slate memorial plaques can be placed in the frame just beside the entrance of the meadow. New memorial trees planted around the woodland are helping to restore trees lost to storms. Here families can choose to place a plaque on the tree guard in memory of a loved one.

The woodland burial grounds gives people time and space to do things their way. All are welcome those who are religious and non-religious. Families can plan a funeral, a celebration of life or a simple, fuss-free burial. The woodland is also dog friendly and they allow pets as part of a natural burial. It is a beautiful place to walk, stop, reflect and remember.

Find out more about Hundy Mundy Woodland Burial Ground

Pembrokeshire Natural Burial Ground

In the heart of Pembrokeshire, beside the village of Keeston is Pembrokeshire Natural Burial Ground. With the Preseli Mountains in the distance, the sea breeze in the air and wildlife and wildflowers is a beautiful natural place.

You can have burials and interment of ashes in the open wildflower hay meadow or in the corner by the bug hotel, surrounded by wild cherries and wildlife. Families can also choose to have a plot with a native tree in the spinney which is creating new woodland. Beside the car park, you will find a gathering space, an area that is easily accessible which families can use for funerals if they wish. Near here is the Welsh Oak memorial frame where you place a plaque in memory of a loved one.

Around the edge of the meadow is a dog-friendly walk which leads down to the pond and wetland restoration, one of the burial ground’s green projects. Along here you can choose to plant a memorial tree. The natural burial ground also has a special area for pet burial and pets’ ashes can be included as part of a natural burial.

Sarah, the owner and custodian, started the natural burial ground while working with bereaved families. As a funeral celebrant, specialising in green funerals, she wanted people to have the choice of natural resting places. Somewhere they didn’t have to worry about time restrictions where all were welcome, those religious and non-religious. A place families, funeral directors and officiants could plan personal funerals that fitted the life of a loved one. But also somewhere sustainable that works with nature, protecting the Pembrokeshire countryside so many love.

Find out more about Pembrokeshire Natural Burial Ground

Usk Castle Chase Natural Burial Meadow

Usk Castle Chase Natural Burial Ground is in the heart of the Monmouth countryside. It’s a peaceful, beautiful place where families have the time and freedom to plan a personal funeral in a natural way.

The burial meadow has a special connection to Usk Castle and a special history connected to WW2. It has helped to conserve and protect one of Wales’ WW2 resistance operational bases. This is also known as the ‘Foxhole’ which is very fitting for the woodland setting where it is hidden away. The natural burial meadow opens up with beautiful far-reaching views overlooking Usk and the surrounding countryside. The woodland offers shelter including a memorial shelter where you can place plaques with the names of loved ones. In the spring you will find the woodland covered in a carpet of blue when the bluebells flower. Occasionally, you may find the sheep mowing the meadow. Dogs are welcome at the natural burial ground, but please keep them on a lead.

Find out more about Usk Castle Chase Natural Burial Meadow