How Do Natural Burials Affect Soil Health?

Natural burial is often described as a gentle return to the earth — but what does that really mean for the soil itself? In recent years, scientists, environmental organisations, and natural burial grounds  have become increasingly interested in how burial practices interact with soil ecosystems.

Natural burials aim to minimise disturbance, avoid embalming chemicals, and use biodegradable materials, making them very different from traditional cemetery practices. These differences have important effects on soil health, nutrient cycling, and the wider ecology of burial landscapes.

This guide explores how natural burials influence the soil beneath our feet, drawing on current research, ecological principles, and best practice guidance. It is written for individuals, families, and anyone curious about the environmental aspects of natural burial.

“Soil health” refers to the soil’s ability to function as a living ecosystem. Healthy soil is rich in microorganisms, nutrients, organic matter, and beneficial fungi and bacteria. It supports plants, helps filter water, stores carbon, and underpins biodiversity.

When thinking about natural burials, important aspects of soil health include:

• Microbial activity (bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes)

• Soil structure (aeration, soil aggregates, water infiltration)

• Organic matter and nutrient cycling

• Plant root health

• Carbon storage potential

• Absence of pollutants such as embalming chemicals

A natural burial engages directly with this living soil ecosystem.

Before we explore the details, it’s helpful to look at the key ways a natural burial interacts with the soil. Each of the following points highlights an aspect of how the burial process, the surrounding environment, and the materials used all contribute to soil health. Together, they help explain why natural burials are often seen as a gentler, more environmentally supportive approach to returning to the earth.

In a natural burial, the body — unembalmed and usually placed in a biodegradable coffin or shroud — decomposes naturally. This process allows nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, carbon, and trace minerals to return to the soil slowly and gently.

Unlike traditional cemeteries, where soil often becomes compacted and chemically altered, natural burial grounds typically preserve soil structure, allowing decomposition to occur under more natural conditions.

Benefits for soil:

• Gradual enrichment of organic matter

• Support for microbial diversity

• Increased nutrient availability for plants

• Improved soil structure over time

Traditional embalming fluids often contain formaldehyde, methanol, and other chemicals that can disrupt microbial communities. Natural burials avoid these substances altogether.

This means:

• Soil microbes remain intact and functional

• No long-term contamination risk

• Healthier fungi–bacteria balance

• Reduced chemical load in groundwater and nearby ecosystems

Many researchers highlight the importance of maintaining healthy microbe populations for carbon sequestration and nutrient cycling — key functions of soil ecosystem services.

Because natural burial grounds are usually managed as meadows, woodlands, or wild spaces, the soil benefits from long-term ecological restoration.

Healthy vegetation means:

• Stronger root systems

• Better soil aggregation

• Higher organic carbon

• More stable soils

• Increased moisture retention

This is consistent with conservation-focused burial models, which aim to enhance entire ecosystems, not just provide burial space.

Researchers have looked closely at whether natural burials overload the soil with nutrients. Most evidence suggests that when burial grounds are well-managed and not overcrowded, nutrient increases are localised, slow-releasing, and easily absorbed by surrounding plant communities.

Key points:

• Bodies decompose over months to years, not all at once

• Nutrients disperse gradually

• Plant uptake prevents accumulation

• Burial spacing prevents soil overload

• Microbial communities adapt quickly

This supports the general view that natural burials, when managed responsibly, integrate into soil processes without causing imbalance.

The soil beneath natural burial sites is home to countless microorganisms that help break down organic matter.

The presence of:

• Fungi (including mycorrhiza)

• Bacteria

• Actinomycetes

• Detritivores such as earthworms

ensures that decomposition occurs naturally and supports soil fertility.

By protecting these organisms — for example, avoiding pesticides, fertilisers, and heavy machinery — natural burial grounds allow soils to function at their best.

Natural burials typically occur at depths that balance:

• Public health requirements

• Natural decomposition processes

• Soil ecological function

Shallower depths mean the soil is well oxygenated, supporting aerobic decomposition, which is faster, cleaner, and more beneficial for microbial life.

Deep burial, by contrast, encourages anaerobic decomposition, which is slower and can contribute to unpleasant gases and slower nutrient cycling.

Plant roots interact with burial sites in helpful ways:

• Roots help stabilise soil and prevent erosion

• They increase microbial diversity

• They absorb nutrients released during decomposition

• They help retain soil moisture

• They support carbon storage

Many natural burial grounds encourage wildflower meadows, hedgerows, or woodland planting, which further improves long-term soil health.

While natural burials generally benefit soil, considerations include:

Overcrowding: Too many burials in a small area can lead to nutrient overload. Responsible burial grounds regulate spacing and plot availability to avoid this.

Soil Type: Clay, sandy, and loamy soils behave differently. Natural burial operators assess soil suitability to ensure good drainage and decomposition.

Waterlogged or Flood-Prone Sites: These are avoided, as anaerobic, waterlogged soils slow decomposition and reduce soil function.

Invasive plants: Some burial grounds carefully manage vegetation to avoid domination by nutrient-loving species such as nettles or brambles.

The Natural Burial Grounds – Guidance for Operators (Ministry of Justice) recommends site assessments that include soil characteristics and ecological impact considerations.

Because burial grounds often become quiet, undisturbed spaces with minimal development, they help restore soil health through:

• Reduced compaction

• Increased organic matter

• Long-term vegetation growth

• Rewilding opportunities

• Habitat creation

Many natural burial grounds actively improve degraded farmland or grassland, making soil health better than before the site was established.

Natural burials can have a positive effect on soil health when carried out responsibly and with ecological sensitivity. They work in harmony with natural processes, enriching the soil, supporting biodiversity, and avoiding chemicals and materials that can harm the environment.

For families choosing a natural burial, it offers comfort to know that this approach not only returns a person gently to the earth but also supports the health of the land for generations to come.

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