Where can you be buried in the UK?

Cremation may be the most popular funeral option in the UK – representing about 80% of the total – but many people still want to be buried instead.

If that’s what you’d prefer, the next thing you might be wondering is what options there are when it comes to where you can be buried – and you may be surprised to find out just how many possibilities there are.

In this article, we’re going to review the main ones and explain why natural burial is likely to be the best choice for many.

Places where you can be buried in the UK

Burials in local authority or church-owned cemeteries

Perhaps the first thing that is likely to come to most people’s mind is being buried in the graveyard at their local church or in one managed by their local authority.

However, churchyards are usually full and because the graves are often close together to make the most of the space they do have, they can be difficult to keep tidy and are not generally relaxing to be in.

Meanwhile, local authority graveyards tend to be large and impersonal and have a negative impact on the environment. Nor do they usually make pleasant places to spend time, being nothing but rows of graves with little else to break up the greyness.

We discussed some of the disadvantages of cemeteries in a previous article.

Natural burial sites

If you’re looking for somewhere that’s altogether nicer – in pretty much every respect – a meadow or woodland burial offers a great deal more for everyone.

At Tithe Green Natural Burial, we take great pride in the fact that people enjoy spending time at our sites – used for the natural burial of ashes as well as bodies – for gatherings, walks and even having picnics.

That’s because natural burial sites:

• Are designed to blend in beautifully with their natural surroundings
• Are peaceful and quiet, often with lots of trees, plants and flowers
• Help to support wildlife and boost biodiversity
• Are often more affordable than other sites
• Are made to be completely environmentally friendly

We explored five reasons a natural burial is better for the environment in a previous blog.

Burial on private land

If you own or have permission to use private land, this is also an option, but you will be responsible for meeting some quite strict regulations, so it isn’t something to be gone into lightly. Generally, it’s only advisable if you have a large piece of rural land to work with – it’s not suitable for a suburban garden!

Among many other hurdles, you have to make sure that you’re not close to any water courses and you’ll need a Certificate of Authority for Burial from the Registrar of Births & Deaths. Plus, the landowner has to keep and maintain a burial register.

Burial at sea

It may sound romantic, but burial at sea offers even more restrictions than using private land. It’s usually only permitted for those who were in the Navy or for the disposal of ashes.

Tithe Green Natural Burial offers woodland and wildflower meadow burial plots at Markfield in Leicestershire, Ketton in Rutland and Oxton in Nottinghamshire.

Why not get in touch and discover how we’re helping to change the face of funerals in the UK – or even to arrange your own environmentally friendly natural burial?