What is natural burial?

Natural burial means being buried in a natural environment like a woodland or wildflower meadow, instead of a graveyard or cemetery, using only natural materials: no plastic, concrete or chemicals. It’s a green way to become part of nature when we die, making a positive impact on the environment. Our natural burial sites are uplifting places to visit, buzzing with nature and wildlife all year round.

Why choose natural burial?

Natural burial is a simple way to become part of nature when we die. There are lots of benefits:

  • Nature lives on. With natural burial you become a gift to the trees, flowers, and bumble bees, buzzing off into a colourful future that never stops.
  • Why become pollution? Nature’s got enough chemicals, plastic and non-biodegradable material to deal with. Plant a tree or some meadow. Help nature breathe.
  • People love visiting. Unlike a cemetery, our natural burial sites are inviting and friendly. Bring a picnic, walk the dog, spend an hour or a day.
  • Open to everyone. With a lighter touch on materials, natural burial costs less. It’s open to all people and faiths. And it’s the oldest: our ancestors did it.

Memorial trees & plaques

Instead of a tombstone, we plant a tree as part of every woodland burial, placing a small Welsh slate plaque with an inscription at the foot of the tree. In our wildflower meadow settings we place plaques instead of trees. We can also plant a memorial tree in woodland without a burial taking place.

How does it compare?

Tithe Green Natural Burial

Natural Burial starts from £1,675 depending on your setting, and other choices.

We only use biodegradable materials for our coffins and urns, including cardboard, willow and wicker.
Family-owned sites, dedicated to biodiversity, conservation and preserving the land for future generations. Our sites are open to visitors every day for people to come and enjoy.
No harmful chemicals from embalming or from materials, which can pollute the soil.
No greenhouse gases (released through traditional cremation).

How does it compare?

Traditional Burial

Traditional burial costs on average £2,200, and more once you factor in cremation.

Many traditional burials use coffins made out of non-sustainable hardwoods such as mahogany and oak, plus a range of other materials (for the handles, lining, etc.) that are not biodegradable at all.
When a traditional cemetery is full, there’s not much more you can do with the land. People can still visit the graves, but the environment is no longer able to move and grow.
Harmful chemicals from embalming can pollute the soil, affecting the surrounding ecosystems and wildlife.
Studies have found CO2 emissions for traditional burial are roughly 3.6 times that of cremation, while green burial can be climate positive.

Our sites

Our natural burial sites are humming with life: trees sway in the breeze, bees carry pollen from wildflower to wildflower. We take great care of these beautiful, biodiverse spaces, open to visitors all day, every day.

We currently have three sites, all in the East Midlands, and we’ll be opening more around the UK in time. Our locations are of course convenient for those living nearby, but people visit Tithe Green from all over the country — we don’t have a catchment policy, you can be based anywhere.

Tithe Green OxtonSalterford Lane, Calverton,
Nottingham,
NG14 6NZ
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Tithe Green KettonLuffenham Road, Ketton,
Stamford,
PE9 3RN
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Tithe Green MarkfieldMarkfield Lane, Markfield,
Leicestershire,
LE67 9TB
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FAQs about natural burial

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Speak to us

If you’d like to talk just give us a call (01623 677 100) or drop us an email: info@tithegreen.com