Why Choose a Natural Burial? For many people today, the idea of a funeral is changing. Instead of headstones and manicured cemeteries and graveyards, more families are choosing a more environmentally conscious path: the natural burial. Rooted in simplicity and care for the Earth, a natural burial offers a thoughtful alternative that’s both meaningful and sustainable.
Whether you're planning ahead or arranging a farewell for a loved one, this guide explores the reasons why more and more people over the World are choosing a natural burial.
What Is a Natural Burial?
What is a natural burial—sometimes called a green burial or eco burial—is a return to the old, simple way of laying someone to rest. The body is buried without embalming chemicals, often in a biodegradable coffin or burial shroud, and placed in a natural setting such as a woodland, wildflower meadow, or conservation area.
There are no polished headstones or plastic flowers. Instead, the burial site is designed to blend into nature—sometimes marked by a tree, a wooden plaque, or nothing at all. The focus is on allowing the body to return to the earth gently and naturally.
Why Choose a Natural Burial?
If you’re considering your own end-of-life plans—or organising a farewell for someone close to you—you might be wondering what makes a natural burial different. Below are some of the key reasons why more and more people are choosing this, nature-connected, environmentally friendly alternative.
Why Choose a Natural Burial...
It’s Environmentally Friendly
One of the main reasons people choose natural burial is its low environmental impact.
-
No embalming means no toxic chemicals like formaldehyde entering the soil or water table.
-
Biodegradable coffins or shrouds (such as willow, wicker, cardboard, or wool) break down naturally over time.
-
Graves are shallower than in traditional cemeteries, which encourages aerobic decomposition—a process that helps the body return to the earth more efficiently.
-
Land is preserved, not manicured: wildflowers, native grasses, and trees often grow freely, supporting biodiversity and local ecosystems.
Compared to cremation or traditional burial, natural burial generates significantly less carbon emissions. It also avoids energy-intensive processes like cremation.
It Feels Gentle and Grounded
There is something deeply comforting about a burial that takes place in nature. For many, the setting—a quiet woodland, a glade surrounded by birdsong, or a sunny meadow—feels more peaceful than a traditional cemetery.
Families often describe natural burials as more personal, more intimate, and more in tune with how their loved one lived. The ceremony itself can be simple or as detailed as you wish, often involving readings, songs, or personal touches in an open-air setting.
It Can Be More Affordable
Natural burials can often be less expensive than traditional funerals. Costs vary depending on location and options chosen, but in general, you can save by:
-
Not using embalming services
-
Choosing a simple biodegradable coffin or shroud
-
Avoiding headstones or elaborate grave markers
-
Holding a modest ceremony without extensive formalities
- DIY Funeral option
It’s a Legacy That Gives Back to the Earth
Instead of taking up land or requiring long-term maintenance, natural burial sites often protect and preserve land for future generations. Some are part of conservation projects, rewilding efforts, or local woodland preservation schemes.
In this way, a natural burial can be seen as a final act of environmental stewardship—a legacy that supports life even after death.
It Aligns With Simpler, More Personal Values
For those who live simply, value nature, or dislike the idea of a highly commercialised funeral, natural burial offers a fitting end-of-life option. It’s not about rejecting tradition, but about choosing something more connected to the natural world.
It also allows for personal touches: families might plant a tree, return to tend wildflowers, or visit the spot in quiet reflection.
Is Natural Burial Legal in the UK?
Yes. Natural burials are fully legal across the UK. There are over 270 natural burial grounds operating in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. These range from dedicated woodland sites to sections within existing cemeteries.
As with all burials, there are rules around paperwork, depth of burial, and land use, but natural burial grounds handle these professionally. You can also legally be buried at home with a home burial with permission, though this involves more planning
Why Choose a Natural Burial
Why Choose a Natural Burial? Natural burial is about more than sustainability—it’s about returning gently to the earth in a way that reflects how many of us wish to live: simply, thoughtfully, and in harmony with nature.
Whether you are planning ahead or arranging a funeral for someone close to you, choosing a natural burial can feel like a quiet gift—to your loved one, to the planet, and to future generations.
To explore your options, visit our Natural Burial Grounds Directory and find the perfect peaceful, local resting place near you that your family will enjoy visiting you.
Explore Natural Burial Grounds Across the UK
Search our Directory ➜ Natural Burial Grounds Near Me
Find peaceful, eco-friendly burial grounds near you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Natural Burials
Yes, as long as the burial site accepts new plots and the person meets their requirements (e.g., unembalmed body, biodegradable materials).
Burial Costs
Most natural burial sites require a eco coffin or funeral shroud made of natural, biodegradable materials like willow, cardboard, or wool.
Pre Planned Burial
Natural Burial Grounds Directory
You can use an online natural burial grounds directory, like our Natural-Burial-Grounds.co.uk, to search by location / counties and compare sites. Also we offer a natural burial grounds near me map.
Ash Internment
Most natural burial grounds offer plots for interning ashes on the sites but usually have requirements for biodegradable urns, but always ask your preferred site.
