Across the UK, more and more people are choosing non-religious funerals as a way to celebrate life in a unique and personalised style. Whether you identify as atheist, agnostic, or simply prefer a secular approach, some options allow you to bid farewell in a beautiful alternative to a churchyard or a crematorium.
Non-religious funerals offer a departure from traditional religious ceremonies, providing a platform for a more personalised farewell. These ceremonies focus on celebrating the life lived rather than adhering to religious rituals. They allow for creativity and flexibility, encouraging mourners to share stories, memories, and anecdotes that truly capture the essence of the departed.
For those seeking an alternative to traditional churchyards, natural burial grounds present a serene and eco-friendly option. Aylesbury Vale Natural Burial Ground offers a peaceful final resting place surrounded by nature.
Natural burial grounds prioritise environmental sustainability. The absence of traditional headstones and the use of biodegradable coffins contribute to a more eco-friendly final resting place.
Set in a picturesque location in Buckinghamshire, the burial ground provides a tranquil and beautiful backdrop, creating a serene environment for reflection and remembrance.
Rather than traditional headstones, Aylesbury Vale offers alternative memorial options such as planting a tree or engraving a plaque, allowing for a lasting tribute.
A non-religious service is a ceremony that celebrates life, milestones, or events without incorporating religious traditions. These services often are led by a secular celebrant, humanist officiant, or a chosen friend/family member.
The ceremony may include speeches, readings, memories and non-religious music, with a focus on personalisation and inclusivity. Symbolic gestures like lighting candles, raising a toast of their favourite drink or planting a tree may be incorporated. Alternatively, a moment of reflection allows attendees to contemplate or remember in their own way. The overall tone is one of celebration, emphasising humanist principles, personal values, and positive memories.
For more information on non-religious funerals and natural burial grounds, feel free to reach out to our knowledgeable team. We are here to support you and help you create a farewell that is as unique and special as the life being celebrated.
At the Aylesbury Natural Burial Meadow, you can purchase a burial plot or an ashes plot, either ahead of time or for someone who has died.
The burial ground is a picturesque meadow. Surrounded by mature hedges and trees under magnificently big skies. It offers wide views across the Vale towards Beacon Hill, Chequers, and Coombe Hill, topped by its monumental column.
Aylesbury Vale natural burial meadow is 7 miles from Aylesbury, 6 miles from Thame and 9 miles from High Wycombe so is well situated to serve Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Hertfordshire, Berkshire, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire as well as London.
Whether you're arranging a funeral now or planning for the future, we have put together information packs for you to download.
Since opening for burials in July 2014, the meadow has naturally evolved. The pond which was dug in March 2014 is now a well-established wildlife habitat teeming with life above and below water.