Should we scatter ashes?

Scattering ashes in a meaningful place has become a popular way to say goodbye. If you shared special memories somewhere, it can feel like the perfect way to keep that connection alive. But scattering ashes can cause real harm to the habitats we’re trying to protect. This is why we have chosen not to offer ashes scattering at our natural burial grounds.

Instead, we bury ashes. Every ash plot at our sites is a permanent place where ashes are interred in the ground, not scattered across it. This page explains why we’ve made that choice, and what we offer instead.

Why scattering ashes can be a problem

Ashes contain concentrated phosphates and other minerals that most soils and plants aren’t equipped to handle in that quantity. People often want to scatter in the places they love most, such as mountains, coastal paths, ancient woodland, and areas of natural beauty. These are frequently the most fragile ecosystems, sometimes home to rare wildlife and wildflowers that are sensitive to sudden changes in soil chemistry.

One scattering might do little harm on its own. The problem is cumulative. There’s only so much change an ecosystem can absorb before it starts to show, and by the time it does, the damage is often already done.

A well-known example is Jane Austen’s house, where over-scattering became such a problem that in 2009 the property had to ask people to stop, due to the damage being done to the garden. It’s a reminder that even places people love can be harmed by the very act of remembrance, and why many organisations, including us, don’t allow ash scattering on their land.

We need to ensure that we don’t fall into the trap of thinking, ‘we are only scattering one set of ashes – what harm can it do?’

Why we bury ashes instead

We’ve seen first-hand the effect concentrated ashes can have on woodland, wildlife and wildflowers at our sites. That’s part of why we made the decision early on not to offer scattering, and instead to bury ashes properly in the ground.

Burial allows the ashes to break down gradually and disperse into the soil over time, rather than sitting on the surface in one concentrated deposit. It also means the site stays undisturbed for the wildlife and habitats around it, which is the whole point of a natural burial ground.

There’s a personal benefit too. A buried plot is a fixed, findable place. Families know exactly where their person is, and can return to that spot for years to come. Many choose an ash plot with a meaningful outlook, overlooking a favourite view, or near wildflowers, or simply somewhere that feels right. Some also choose a memorial tree planted alongside.

What if you wanted to scatter somewhere meaningful?

If protecting a place you love means scattering isn’t right for it, there are other options worth knowing about. Some football clubs and other organisations have dedicated remembrance gardens. Scattering at sea is possible and generally has minimal environmental impact, though it’s worth checking the relevant guidance first. Some places offer loose scatter within a plot, which limits concentration in one spot.

If you’d like somewhere in nature that’s protected for the long term, a natural burial ground with ash burial is worth considering. Families tell us it brings real comfort knowing ashes are in a defined, protected space, often one with its own meaningful connection, whether that’s the view, the wildlife, the wildflowers, or simply that it’s a proper part of the countryside.

A few things worth knowing

You always need the landowner’s permission before scattering ashes anywhere, and you should be confident there’s no significant environmental impact. Scattering at sea has its own set of rules and regulations worth checking in advance.

Before scattering anywhere, it’s worth asking, “Can I scatter here? Will it cause any harm, and is there a way to do this without affecting the local habitat?”

​The truth is, we don’t know how many other sets of ashes have been scattered. When we start to wonder why we don’t see those lichens or orchids anymore, it could be due to this reason. Nature is having a hard enough time surviving due to our impact. The last thing we want is for the beauty that we admire or the places we love to be harmed.