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. Hundy Mundy Woodland 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 the Scottish borders, the burial ground provides a tranquil and beautiful backdrop, creating a serene environment for reflection and remembrance.
Rather than traditional headstones, Hundy Mundy woodland burial ground 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 Hundy Mundy Woodland Burial Ground, you can purchase a burial plot or an ashes plot, either ahead of time or for someone who has died.
The burial ground is divided into 8 areas, each with slightly different features. Larch is the first area you encounter at the burial ground. It has views of Mellerstain country house and of the surrounding Scottish borders landscape. In Middlewood you are surrounded by trees in a peaceful, tranquil and serene setting. In the Tower area you truly feel like you are apart of history. Hundy Mundy is in fact the name of the gothic folly tower which stands prominently in the area amongst the trees. In the lovely Eildon you have peaceful views south across the steep valley of Muckle Thairn and Eden Water towards Kelso and the Cheviots beyond.
Larch - £985
Eildon End - £1245
Middlewood - £1450
Larch - £495
Eildon End - £620
Middlewood - £730
Tower - £960
Slate Memorial Plaque - £335
Tree Dedication Plaque - £450
Find us by following the signs for the natural burial ground from the A6089. Follow the lane or three quarters of a mile until to see the Burial Ground on your left.
We recommend that before you make the decision to purchase a burial or interment plot, you go to visit the burial ground, to make sure it is the right place for you and your family.
The site is open all year round during daylight hours so please feel free to visit without making an appointment. The pedestrian gate is always open. Or if you would like a guided tour around the ground, please get in touch with Jane, the custodian, who will be happy to meet you there.
Whether you're arranging a funeral now or planning for the future, we have put together information packs for you to download.
Hundy Mundy Wood is a mature Scot’s pine and beech wood in an elevated position on the Mellerstain Estate. Mellerstain is one of the great houses of Scotland and its history has been entangled with national history for nearly five hundred years.