If you go down to the woods today, you’ll be sure of a big surprise. This line from a nursery rhyme from our youth, reminds us, firstly, that’s where the teddy bears have their picnic, but also that it is not what you were expecting it to be.
As an alternative to a traditional burial in the local cemetery, surrounded by lines of headstones, a woodland burial provides the option to families to lay their loved one to rest in a tranquil, woodland setting, surrounded by trees, shrubs and wildlife. Situated all around the country are several Woodland Burial Parks, that aren’t necessarily what you are expecting when you arrive.
The first of these was opened near Amersham and Beaconsfield. The GreenAcres Chilterns site is located within a 100+ acres of woodland, with easy access to the M40 and A40 in one direction, and the M25 and A413 in the other, although you wouldn’t notice them when you are there.
The Park is not just an area of woodland which allows burials to take place, but a fully self-contained service provision for funerals to take place. Within the grounds are a Service Chapel and Gathering Hall. The Chapel can seat 120 mourners comfortably and is fitted with all the traditional requirements for a funeral service, including music systems and video screens. The difference is that the view through the glass wall is of the beautiful woodland. Prior the service, mourners can congregate in the Gathering Hall, and after the burial, the hall can be used to host the reception.
Families may choose to hold the funeral service in their local church beforehand, for which the cortege would just proceed directly to the graveside for the committal. In either case, mourners would traditionally park their cars and walk behind the hearse to the deceased’s final resting place. For those less able, they do have adapted golf buggies to ferry mourners to and from the different areas of the park.
The graves are placed in sections, and some are more secluded than others. The team at GreenAcres ensure that they go through all the options with the family, exploring options such as dedicated family trees and private burial areas. Each grave is marked with a wooden post, and families can bespoke these to reflect their loved one.
The grounds however are not restricted to burials alone. With an increasing change towards cremation over burial, families have the option to hold a funeral service in the Chapel, and the coffin be taken to a local crematorium for cremation, returning afterwards for a burial of the ashes within the grounds at a later date.
We find when we present the option of the Woodland Burial to families, they are not aware of the location or what is available. To enable people to go and see for themselves what the woodland park consists of, GreenAcres hold several events throughout the year welcoming people in and providing guidance to explore. Like a traditional cemetery they have opening times, and rules to abide to within the grounds, but they are incredibly welcoming to anyone who wants to enquire.
So, when you go down to the woods today, hopefully you’ll be surprised by what you see. Please feel free to pay them a visit in person on online – www.greenacresgroup.co.uk/chiltern-park