High Peak Borough Council is aware of the concern felt by many people at the loss of trees and wildlife.
In order to reverse this loss, the Council has recognised that burial grounds can be designed to offer many benefits to wildlife, whilst also introducing greater choice for the bereaved.
The woodland meadow graves offer a "return to nature", for those who wish to be buried among native trees, and wild flowers such as Wood Anemone, Daisies, Red Campion, Speedwell, Dog Daisies, Ladies Smock and Scabious.
The woodland meadow area will provide a living memorial, one that will offer pleasures and benefits to future generations.
Areas for woodland meadow burial have been set aside at Buxton, Glossop, Thornsett and Hope Cemeteries.
These burial areas have been planned to recreate the traditional woodland scene typical of the area, providing a fine habitat for wildlife. The graves will remain forever, in the newly created woodland.
The woodland meadow graves will be carefully recorded on plans with each grave individually numbered and identifiable by Council staff on site via a buried marker. This will ensure that the graves can always be found as the trees grow and the undergrowth develops.
After a number of burials, and at the appropriate time of year, trees of native species (e.g. alder, rowan, oak, beech and birch) will be planted, wild flower seeds will be sown and bulbs planted in the area. Please be aware that not every grave will have a tree planted on it. It is intended that the trees will be planted in an unregimented manner and therefore, over the years, a natural woodland will develop.
Preferably burials should take place in a bio-degradable coffin, casket, shroud or other appropriate container. Plastic handles and fittings should not be used. If natural wood coffins are used, they should be made from wood obtained from managed forests. All of these should be available from your funeral director.
You may use a home-made coffin or casket, although you should ensure that this is safe and acceptable to the Council.
Embalming is not permitted for woodland burials.
Cremated remains may also be buried or scattered in this area.
The woodland meadow burial area will be managed for the development of the trees and the benefit of wildlife.
Horticultural chemicals will not be used, except where a serious noxious weed develops. This would only involve spot treatment, a policy endorsed by the Woodland Trust.
It must be appreciated that the 'formal, neat and tidy' appearance of other parts of our cemeteries will not apply to this burial area due to the ‘meadow’ maintenance regime.
Graves will not be reserved for people of specific religions and the dead of varying faiths will be buried in the same area. It is your decision as to whether you arrange a religious service, a secular service, or to have no service at all.
Traditional funeral patterns do not have to be rigidly followed, but it is recommended that the funeral is carried out with the guidance of a funeral director or Cemetery Services staff.
For those who have no relatives to care for a traditional grave and memorial, a woodland grave offers a new choice. Nature will care for the grave and the neglect of an unvisited memorial will not arise.
In addition, the woodland grave area offers a new option for those who do not wish their children or relatives to have to care for their graves in the future.
To encourage wildlife, wild flowers and the planted trees, it is necessary to impose a number of restrictions. Wreaths and floral tributes may only be laid at the time of the burial and these will be removed after two weeks. Relatives and friends should not attempt to beautify or memorialise the grave or trees in any way, as people walking to individual graves will trample wild flowers and plants, destroying the living memorial we propose to create.
If you require a memorial, a bronze plaque can be placed in the garden of remembrance and can be used as a place to leave wreaths and flowers. Details can be obtained from our offices.
Woodland meadow graves may be reserved for future use by submitting the prescribed fee to Parks and Environment, Council Offices, Hayfield Road, Chapel-en-le-Frith, High Peak, SK23 0QJ.
The fee includes a contribution towards the planting of trees and bulbs on the grave and continuing maintenance.
The fees for preparing a grave for burial are additional and payable at the time of the funeral.
A deed of ownership will be prepared and issued within one month, covering a period of 80 years. Unlike other graves, this period is not significant as each grave is for one interment only.
Woodland meadow burial is not for those who require a formal, neat and tidy grave with a traditional headstone, nor for those who wish to visit the grave frequently or leave flowers and wreaths.
It will be chosen by those who love wildlife and are concerned with the environment, and who wish to create a woodland for future generations.