What is a woodland burial?
How much does a woodland burial cost and how does it work? We answer your questions here..
What is a woodland burial?
A woodland burial – also known as a "natural burial" or "green burial" – is an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional funerals. The body or its ashes are put to rest in a natural setting such as a woodland or meadow. The body isn't embalmed and the coffin is made of biodegradable materials.

People arrange woodland burials for different reasons. Some want an environmentally friendly service. Others like the peace and quiet of a natural setting.
Woodland burials can be a suitable resting place for a nature lover. They can also be more cost-effective than traditional funerals at crematoriums and cemeteries.
How much does a woodland burial cost?
Burial sites in the UK vary from hundreds to thousands of pounds, depending on location. Woodland burial prices tell a similar story.
The cost of a woodland burial can range from a few hundred pounds to several thousand. The exact cost depends on the site, location, plot size and how the grave is marked.

In general, a woodland burial will be cheaper than burial in a council-owned site. Biodegradable coffins, shrouds and urns are also cheaper than their standard counterparts.
What to wear to a woodland burial
Most of the time, family members or the funeral director will share any requests regarding attire. If in doubt, you should dress respectfully in muted colours. Because the burial takes place outdoors, you will want to wear practical footwear.
Sometimes, loved ones want a woodland burial to be a more celebratory affair than a traditional funeral. If this is the case, they may ask attendees to wear more relaxed and informal clothes. This request should be included in the invitation.
If in any doubt about the dress code for a woodland burial, ask the family or funeral directors for clarification.
Woodland burial FAQs
How do you arrange a woodland burial?
To arrange a woodland burial, you should contact your local funeral director. They will talk you through your options as well as how much the burial will cost.
What is a woodland burial ground?
A woodland burial ground is part of a woodland put aside for green burials. Its purpose is to reduce the impact the burial has on the environment. To this end, it foregoes embalming chemicals, uses biodegradable coffins, shrouds and urns and tends to mark graves with wooden plaques or trees.
What happens at a woodland burial?
At a woodland burial, the body is placed in a biodegradable coffin or shroud and lowered into the ground. The gravesite can then be marked with a tree, flowers, plaque or simple wooden marker.
The ceremony itself will be planned by the family in conjunction with the funeral director. It can be formal or informal, long or short. Many woodland burial sites offer outdoor wakes and indoor services.
How is a body prepared for a green burial?
Green burials and woodland burials prioritise environmental friendliness. For this reason, the body isn't embalmed and the coffin, casket, urn or shroud is made from biodegradable and often natural materials.
How are woodland graves marked?
Woodland graves are typically marked with a simple plaque with no metal fixings. This is to minimise the burial's impact on the environment. Some allow you to plant a tree or shrub at an additional cost. Others still don't allow markers at all.
When arranging a woodland burial, make sure to ask your funeral director what your options are to avoid disappointment.
Can you bury ashes in a woodland burial?
In theory, you can bury ashes as part of a woodland burial ceremony. It's worth keeping in mind that flame cremation produces a lot of greenhouse gases and so may not be suitable if you want to prioritise environmental sustainability.
How do I find a woodland burial site?
When looking for a woodland burial site, there are a number of options. You can contact a local funeral director or your council. You can also look at the Natural Death Centre website. This features a list of natural burial grounds.
Why are woodland burials environmentally friendly?
Traditional burials and cremation have environmental impacts. In the case of burials, embalming chemicals can leak into the soil. In the case of cremations, crematoriums produce a lot of carbon emissions.
Woodland burials, by contrast, don't produce any carbon emissions (excluding transportation to the woodland burial site). The body decomposes naturally without embalming chemicals, and the coffins, shrouds and urns are usually made from biodegradable materials.
Arrange the funeral you want with AFD
At AFD, we can help you arrange a woodland burial. Contact us via our
webpage or on our 24/7 phone line on 020 8355 7876.
