There are many funeral options to choose from in the UK, but with around 75% of people in the UK choosing cremation – and a growing number choosing direct cremation – it’s clear that funeral options are evolving. Here are the funeral options:
Traditional
Burial
- Churchyard or Cemetery Burial: This is a less common option now, involving a service at a church or other venue, followed by burial in a churchyard or cemetery. The grave may be marked with a headstone or other memorial.
- Green or Woodland Burial: An environmentally friendly option where the body is buried in a natural setting, often with a biodegradable coffin and minimal disturbance to the environment. These sites usually avoid traditional headstones, opting instead for simple markers or no markers at all.
Cremation
- Standard Cremation: This is often less expensive than burial and involves a service, either religious or non-religious, followed by cremation. The ashes can be kept in an urn, scattered, or buried.
- Direct Cremation: A no-frills option where the body is cremated without a funeral service beforehand. The ashes can be returned to the family to be kept or scattered
Specialised Options
Military Funerals:
For those who have served in the armed forces, a military funeral may include specific rites, such as the draping of the coffin with the national flag and the playing of the Last Post.
Cultural and Religious Funerals:
The UK’s diverse population means that many cultural and religious funeral practices are available, such as Sikh, Hindu, Jewish, and Islamic funerals, each with their own customs and rites.
Anatomical Donation:
Some people choose to donate their bodies to medical science. After use, the remains are usually cremated, with the ashes returned to the family or interred by the institution.
Funerals at Sea
Requirements: In the UK, a burial at sea requires a special licence from the Marine Management Organisation (MMO). The licence is necessary to ensure that environmental guidelines are followed.
Locations: There are only three designated burial sites in the UK where burials at sea are permitted:
– Off The Needles, Isle of Wight
– Off Tynemouth, North Tyneside
– Off Newhaven, East Sussex
Preparation: The body must be prepared in a specific way, usually involving a shroud and a weighted coffin that is biodegradable and designed to sink. The coffin must be made of untreated wood and contain large holes to allow it to sink quickly.
Cost: Burials at sea tend to be more expensive than traditional funerals due to the specialised nature of the service and the need for a licensed vessel to take the body out to sea.
Burial on Private Land
Permissions: You do not need specific permission to bury a body on private land in the UK, as long as you own the land and it is not within 10 meters of any ‘water source’ (wells, streams, etc.), 50 meters of any drinking water supply, and 250 meters of any well used for water extraction.
Registration: While you don’t need planning permission, you must record the burial in the property deeds and inform the Environment Agency. This is to ensure that future owners of the land are aware of the burial site.
Environmental Considerations: The burial site must not pose a risk to public health or the environment. The soil must be deep enough to prevent animals from disturbing the grave.
Coffin and Grave Preparation: The coffin should be biodegradable if you want an eco-friendly burial. The grave must be deep enough to cover the body by at least one meter of earth.
Future Land Use: It’s important to consider how the land might be used in the future. For example, if the land is sold, the new owners need to be aware of the burial site. Additionally, if you plan to develop the land, this could complicate matters.
Other
Pre-Paid Funeral Plans
Many people in the UK choose to take out pre-paid funeral plans, which allow them to pay in advance for their funeral, ensuring that their wishes are respected and relieving financial pressure on their family.
Memorial Services
Sometimes a memorial service is held separately from the burial or cremation. This can be a more flexible option for families who wish to gather and remember the deceased at a later time, possibly in a different location.
Direct-to-Consumer Options
Online companies now offer more flexible, direct-to-consumer options, allowing families to arrange everything themselves or with minimal assistance, often at a lower cost.
Funeral Resources
Thanet Funeral Directors
Services offered by local award winning holistic funeral director Holly Hawk
Natural Burial Grounds
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