Simple Natural Burial at Usk

Distinctive, imaginative and environmentally friendly funerals look set to become the natural alternative to conventional ceremonies. A new scheme for green burials at Usk, South-east Wales, is soon to offer people extra choice.

(PRWEB) January 29, 2005 -- Funerals are very personal occasions. Increasingly, people are demanding a wider and more imaginative range of services from funeral directors to commemorate their loved ones.

In response to this, Usk Castle Chase and Native Woodland Limited plan to offer simple, natural burials in their secluded meadow as an alternative to the uniformity of the cemetery, churchyard or crematorium.

Monmouthshire County Council is currently considering the planning application for a green burial scheme at Usk Castle Chase.

"The quiet secluded beauty of the meadow and the surrounding woodland made it a natural choice when we were planning a natural burial site for the area", says James Leedam, director of Native Woodland Limited. He adds:

"The idea was first conceived more than two years ago. Usk Town Council approached local landowners about providing a piece of land for cemetery use and were surprised by the enthusiastic and positive response to the idea of a natural burial ground."

Native Woodland Limited works with local landowners to identify suitable locations, develop the concept and create a refined and simple low impact plan for the land. The Usk Castle Chase location was selected for its outstanding setting, south-facing meadow and mature woodland enclosure.

"The meadow has something very special about it." continues Leedam, "It's not just the outstanding views of beautiful Monmouthshire countryside. The meadow itself forms an important and historic part of the landscape. Preservation of an existing landscape is one of our main objectives. A successful site for us is one where the essential character of the location is retained and where the changes we introduce are virtually imperceptible."

Gwent Wildlife Trust are partners in the Usk Castle Chase site. The Trust has already assessed the ecology of the site and advised how to minimise the impact of the access track and parking area. Most valuably, the Trust has also provided guidance on how to tailor the future management and maintenance of the site to achieve wildlife conservation objectives. The report concludes:

The proposed scheme will lead to net enhancement for wildlife. The grassland will be managed in a way that will accommodate green burials and lead to long-term enhancement of the grassland biodiversity."

Native Woodland Limited has also commissioned a specialist environmental report to establish that the risk of ground water pollution is within the Environment Agencys strict limits.

Distinctive, imaginative and environmentally friendly funerals look set to become the natural alternative to conventional ceremonies.

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