Leedam Natural Heritage
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A contemporary funeral at Usk

Press and Media Kit

We welcome enquires from the press and media concerning all aspects of natural burials and contemporary funerals.

Leedam Natural Heritage is the leading company within the natural burial sector of cemetery operators. We are known and respected for being real, honest and innovative.

At the heart of everything we do is trust. Our clients trust us with the most precious people in their lives and to preserve and maintain the land where they rest far into the future. You can read some of their stories on our Your Stories page.

James and Elaine Leedam and Tracy Richards, based at their office in Monmouth, have a wealth of experience to share with you frankly and extensively. They speak to bereaved people and those planning ahead every day, so although they are not academics they are practitioners with highly informed heads on their shoulders.
On this page:
  • Areas of expertise
  • Contact details
  • Social media
  • About the company
  • Benefits of natural burial
  • About James and Elaine
  • Awards and recognition
  • Images
  • Previous media coverage

  •  

    Our Experience

    With more than twenty years’ experience of the funeral industry between them, James, Elaine and Tracy have expertise in the following:

    Contemporary funerals

    The hardest thing we ever have to do is say goodbye and arranging a funeral is not easy. People increasingly want to do this in their own way but are not sure where to turn for advice. They often know what they don’t want but are sometimes not sure what they do want or even where to start.  They are good listeners, can help with ideas and give sensitive support and guidance. Anything goes and our funerals can involve live music, a pony and trap, tractors, someone’s horse, picnics and of course dogs and children to name just a few. We do not just talk the talk we actually make it happen, with or without the assistance of a funeral director.

    Trends

    Each year we notice a increase in the amount of people wanting to arrange and conduct the funeral from start to finish stepping away from the 'set piece'.  Advising these families is a particular skill because of the support and guidance they need. In all cases, the families have found their experiences immensely rewarding and look back on them with love and emotion as well as great pride. Some refer to this type of funeral as 'DIY' but we call them 'Family led funerals'. Read about them on our Your Stories page. Or, ring us and we can tell you more about them.

    What motivates people

    What really sets natural burial apart is the before, during and after aspect. This is where I want to be, this was an occasion I will have good memories of rather than one I endured, this is where I love to come and remember. There is healing to be had in spending time surrounded by nature, simplicity and peace. It is rarely about being 'green'. Green is just a colour. In some cases it can also be a rejection of peoples previous experiences at municipal cemeteries and crematoriums that they found lacked meaning. 

    Engagement with the public

    We do this in a number of ways including social media, on our own blog and as guest writers on others, at local shows, educational events and via end of life organisations. We speak to people every day who want to find out what is possible. They find our expert advice both helpful and liberating. We advocate taking more control and asking the funeral director to stay in the background so that people can concentrate on the things that really matter.

    Natural burial

    Operating eight natural burial grounds, we have extensive knowledge about the requirements for getting one started, how to maintain one and how to ensure it's sustainable future.

    Environmental factors of burials and cremations

    Natural burial works with the land ensuring that it has a future, unlike municipal cemeteries that are quickly running out of space and using up land, and crematoria that burn millions of units of irreplaceable fossil fuel each year in the UK alone.

       

    Contact Us

    Telephone
    01600 716438

    Email
    info@leedam.com

    Address
    The Market Tavern, 26 Agincourt Sq, Monmouth, NP25 3BT

    Blog
    www.leedam.com/blog

    Social Media

    Facebook
    www.facebook.com/LeedamNaturalHeritage

    Twitter
    www.twitter.com/NaturalBurials


    YouTube
    www.youtube.com/channel/UCaTvq9GNdNz_tQlgtL6Ckvw


    Google +
    plus.google.com/111769052549030495443

    Pinterest
    www.pinterest.com/LeedamNH
    Good Funeral Awards 2013
    Melissa (previous Manager) collecting our Cemetery of the Year award for Henley Woodland Burial Ground 2013.

     

    About the company

    Truly natural burials in unspoilt landscape with good stewardship for generations to come.
    • Operator of 8 natural burial grounds across the UK
    • Awards for its burial grounds and services from the ICCM and Good Funeral Awards
    • Adviser to the Ministry of Justice's Guide for Operators of Natural Burial Grounds
    • Former trustee of the Natural Death Centre/Association of Natural Burial Grounds
    • Member of the ICCM committee advising the board on natural burials
    • Recommended by The Good Funeral Guide
    • Director James Leedam
    • ​Marketing and Accounts Elaine Leedam
    • Manager Tracy Richards
    Leedam UK Natural Burial Grounds
     
    Leedam Natural Heritage was established in 2003 when we opened Usk Natural Burial Meadow in tandem with landowner Rosie Humphreys and David Leat of the Gwent Wildlife Trust.

    We now have 8 natural burial grounds across the UK, set in idyllic countryside and offering plots for natural interment and providing healing landscapes to visit.

    Our sustainable credentials are something we take seriously, and can ensure our burial grounds have a secure future both environmentally and economically. They all have a dual purpose and remain part of the active countryside as pasture for animals, are cropped for hay or will become woodland.

    We apply our ‘simple, natural and beautiful’ ethos to everything we do. We want to change people’s funeral experiences for the better by offering simple, natural burials in some of the UK’s most outstanding countryside. It is our belief that a funeral can be beneficial to both a family and the landscape.

    Read more here.

    Benefits of natural burial

    • An entirely sustainable option
    • Encourages families to hold a more personal and fulfilling funeral, and not to settle for 'the set piece'
    • No visual impact and preserves the landscape
    • Requires biodegradable coffins and urns made from materials such as wicker, cardboard or wool
    • Does not allow headstones as these are normally imported from countries such as China and India, burning lots of fossil fuels
    • The meadow or woodland can remain part of the active countryside, as part of a farm for grazing or making hay etc.
    • Shallower burials where the soil is more aerobic and active

    We also have a Natural Burial Guide.

     

    About James

    Picture
    "I have a clear philosophy, which is to keep things simple, natural and beautiful, to use local materials, native plants, and to preserve the history of the landscape."
    Formerly a Chartered Building Surveyor, James turned his attention to setting up and managing new natural burial grounds in 2003.

    He was part of the Ministry of Justice panel that contributed to the MoJ's 'Natural Burial Grounds - Guidance for Operators'.


    In 2008 he joined the Natural Death Centre as a trustee, where he helped to reinvigorate and update the charity for a busy 18 months.

    In 2011 James was invited to serve on a committee to advise the board of the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management on matters relating to sustainable natural burial grounds, with a view to setting up a diploma course in Natural Burial Ground Management and a new Charter for Natural Burial.

    James enjoys fly-fishing which he does regularly on the Usk and sings in Monmouth Male Voice Choir.

    About Elaine

    Picture
    "My aim is to provide a friendly and helping hand to people who come to us. I like to treat everyone as an individual and show that we care. Funeral professionals like to know that the person managing our end also understands their world."
    Joining in April 2015 after working for seven years with Tovey Brothers funeral directors in Newport, Elaine plays a vital role in speaking to families, professionals and our landowner partners.

    Elaine has extensive knowledge of the funeral trade and has been involved with the development of the natural burial grounds from the initial foundation of the company.


    Elaine is involved in every aspect of the business whether in the office, at the burial grounds or on the road promoting natural burial. She has travelled the country visiting our landowners, burial grounds and custodians. She's represented Leedam at many promotional events and country shows where we engage with people often in a lighthearted and open way to explain what we do.

    When not at work Elaine spends time gardening, harvesting produce and creatively cooking. She sings in a local choir and also enjoys getting together with her extended family in South Wales.

     

    Leedam's awards and recognition

    The Good Funeral Awards

    • Gravedigger of the Year 2014 Winner, Jonny Yaxley of Henley Woodland Burial Ground
    • Cemetery of the Year Nominee 2014, Usk Natural Burial Meadow
    • Cemetery of the Year 2013 Winner, Henley Woodland Burial Ground
    • Cemetery of the Year Nominee 2014, Cardiff Natural Burial Meadow

    The Good Funeral Guide

    • Recommended by the GFG, the leading independent consumer guidebook, website and blog written by industry expert Charles Cowling.

    Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management (ICCM)

    • Member of the ICCM
    • Cemetery of the Year 2008 Winner, Usk Natural Burial Meadow

    Jonny Yaxley
    Johnny Yaxley with his Gravedigger of the Year award 2014.
    Leedam cannot authorise the use of the logos below in other pieces of media, please contact the relevant organisation to do so.
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

     

    Images

    Please use any of the images below and if you'd like any without branding then do get in touch. We also have high resolution PDFs. As well as those already on our Gallery page we have other pictures we'd be happy for you to use.

    Our natural burial grounds - high resolution JPEGs

    Aylesbury Vale Natural Burial Meadow
    Bath Natural Burial Meadow
    Cothiemuir Hill Woodland Burial Ground
    Cardiff Natural Burial Meadow
    Delliefure Natural Burial Ground
    Henley Woodland Burial Ground
    Hundy Mundy Woodland Burial Ground
    Usk Natural Burial Meadow

    Branding

    Leedam Natural Heritage
    Leedam leaf
    Leedam UK Natural Burial Grounds

     

    Previous media coverage

    2014

    • November, Funeral Service Times, Natural Burials: Working Together, p.18
    • November, Funeral Service Times, Naturally good for your business, p.15 - 17
    • 20th November, New Statesman, Six feet under: meeting Britain's Gravedigger of the Year
    • 14 - 20th November, New Statesman, Words with a gravedigger (printed), article by Xan Rice
    • 29th September, Henley Standard, Award for grave digger
    • 20th September, Oxford Mail, Man with the special spade is Gravedigger of the Year
    • 20th September, Oxford Times, Man with the special spade is Gravedigger of the Year
    • 20th September, Henley Standard, Local gravedigger wins national award
    • 20th September, The Herald, Man with the special spade is Gravedigger of the Year
    • 17th September, Thame Gazette, Gravedigger Jonny wins top prize for his caring work
    • 17th September, Bucks Herald, Gravedigger Jonny wins top prize for his caring work
    • 16th September, Daily Mail, Death throes a party!
    • 15th September, Henley Herald, Jonny Yaxley from Henley Wins Gravedigger of the Year
    • 13th September, Newsweek, Now for a New Undertaking... Welcome to the Ideal Death Show
    • 7th September, Good Funeral Awards Blog, Good Funeral Awards Winners
    • 15th August, Good Funeral Awards Blog, Good Funeral Awards The Longlist
    • 20th July, Bucks Herald, Burial ground offers alternative funeral
    • 15th May, BBC, Rare trees planted to honour man who discovered them
    • 23rd April, Monmouth Beacon online, Wales's rarest tree to be planted in Usk

    2013

    • 5th December, News Wales, Memorial shelter for natural burial meadow
    • 13th September, PR Web, Leedam Natural Heritage's Natural Burial Ground at Henley Wins Coveted Award
    • 11th September, Henley Herald, Henley Woodland Burial Ground Wins Award
    • 10th September, Good Funeral Awards Blog, Good Funeral Awards 2013 Winners and Photos
    • 13th August, Good Funeral Awards Blog, The Longlist - Good Funeral Awards 2013

    2012

    • 4th September, The Western Daily Press, Trend for natural burials grows rapidly in West
    • 23rd February, The Bath Chronicle, Natural burial site approved for green belt

    2011

    • 8th November, Graham Kitchener (blog), Hundy Mundy

    2010

    • 22nd December, Ian Johnston (blog), Solstice Stones
    • 27th October, ABC, Natural burial
    • 24th October, BBC 1 Countryfile, Usk Natural Burial Ground
    • 4th October, Henley Standard, Natural burial site
    • 7th June, BBC, Natural burial 'the way forward' with graveyards scarce

    2009

    • 20th October, Chronicle of a Croydon Boy (blog), The Earl Interview on Hundy Mundy
    • 17th June, The Berwickshire News, Hundy Mundy burial ground is up for an award
    • 27th May, BBC, In Pictures: Wildlife

    2008

    • 2nd July, South Wales.org, Usk Natural Burial Ground Open Day
    • 13th June, iC Wales, Natural burial ground opens in the Vale

    2007

    • 31st May, South Wales Argus, Net cemetery
    • 30th May, BBC, 'Online headstones' idea for town
    • 20th January, Herald Scotland, All Scots to be offered 'green' woodland burial

    2006

    • 20th June, Edinburgh Evening News, The green reaper
    • 2nd February, The Southern Reporter, Green burials on increase at region's woodland sites
    Picture
    Company
    Contact Us
    Our People
    About Us
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    ​
    The Essentials
    Our Terms and Conditions
    Burial Ground Rules
    ​Privacy Policy
    Website Terms & Conditions
    Cookie Policy
    Useful links
    ​GoodFuneral Guide
    Info For FDs
    Working With Landowners
    Guide for Professionals
    Other
    FAQs
    ​
    Press kit
    Social media
    Awards
    Presentations
    MoJ Operator Guidance
    Leedam Natural Heritage
    The Market Tavern
    26 Agincourt Square
    Monmouth
    NP25 3BT

    Tel ​07735 764 972
    or 01600 716438
    © Leedam Natural Heritage, a trading name of Native Woodland Ltd a company registered in Scotland No. SC240278
    • Home
      • Blog
    • Locations
      • Our burial grounds
      • Finding the spot >
        • Using your phone
        • Using tape measures
        • Using landmarks
      • Parking
    • Coronavirus
    • Arrangements
      • Who Does What?
      • Family Led Funerals
      • Funeral Directors
      • The Funeral Service
      • Words and Music
    • Natural Burial
      • Natural Burial Guide
      • Cremation or Burial?
      • Rules and Regs
    • Advice
      • Future Security
      • Spreading costs >
        • Funeral Plans
      • Babies and children
      • Practical Advice
      • Health & Safety
      • Coffins
      • Flowers
      • Trees on Graves
      • Bereavement
      • The Good Funeral Guide
      • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Memorial Websites
    • Your Stories
    • Contact Us