Natural Burial in winter? What is this like? What should we do?

[Oystercatcher2]

My mother is very ill and is going to die over the next few days. She decided a few weeks ago that she would like a natural burial. I like this idea, but have never been to one, so have no idea what it’s like.

What should we do? It is likely to be freezing cold and could well be windy and wet. I don’t think there will be loads of people who will want to come and say goodbye to Mum, but there will be a few, some of whom maybe elderly.

Should we have a very short “service” at the burial and go on somewhere warm afterwards for food and drink? Or should we keep the burial for family only and try and have a service for her in a local church?

I want the occasion to be as nice as possible, but as I have never been to a natural burial can’t get my head round how best to make it work in winter.

Any advice very gratefully received.

Have you looked at whoich natural burial ground you'll be choosing? I don't have loads of experience, but lots of natural burial grounds have a chapel type place where you hold the service prior to burial, the same as a 'normal' cemetary.
e.g.
www.claytonwood.co.uk/our-facilities/

So sorry to hear about your mum.

When my DH died last year, we had a (non religious) service at the local crem and then drove to the local natural burial ground after. Your funeral director will probably be able to advise the best way to go around it. We couldn’t have a proper wake at the time due to lockdown.

We kept the bit at the burial ground short because the weather was bitterly cold. The funeral director just recited a short poem.

Not meaning to be flippant in any way here…..but surely it’s just the same any other funeral except you’re putting the body straight into the ground except without a coffin?
Some service, graveside, wake/tea?
My deepest condolences.

I think I've written about it before, but the most wonderful funeral I ever went to was my grandmother's. She donated her body to medical science, so there was no coffin. We booked a local wedding venue and had a humanist funeral, which was beautiful, all about the circle of life and how we're all part of a natural process, but we live on in memory and in growing things. Anyone who wanted to could speak and share memories of her, and afterwards we had an afternoon tea in the same place.

It was a very special commemoration of someone who was amazing.

Pressed post too soon - I am sorry about your Mum. You sound like a lovely, caring person, and you're being very thoughtful about this.

The natural burial ground we used still used coffins but they had to be eco friendly. I went for Somerset willow but they would accept cardboard (there were lots of designs for those). Again your funeral director will be able to advise.

Sorry that was meant to be a reply to BingBong.

@BorisKilledMyHusband

The natural burial ground we used still used coffins but they had to be eco friendly. I went for Somerset willow but they would accept cardboard (there were lots of designs for those). Again your funeral director will be able to advise.

Oh I suppose that makes sense. It does sound very beautiful.

@BingBongToTheMoon

Not meaning to be flippant in any way here…..but surely it’s just the same any other funeral except you’re putting the body straight into the ground except without a coffin? Some service, graveside, wake/tea? My deepest condolences.

Yes, this. You can do as much or as little as you like at the graveside and/or elsewhere.

Very sorry to hear of your impending loss, OP. Best wishes.

Some natural burial grounds have their own service hall so you can have your service under cover and just witness the lowering into the grave afterwards.

They usually accept coffins, provided they are eco friendly such as willow or cardboard.

It could well be cold, windy and wet at this time of the year, so you will need to wrap up warm.

I'm a funeral arranger and I'm arranging a natural burial this week. The burial ground (south England) said they're incredibly busy at the moment so you'd need to check if you can even get something before Christmas. Do consider visiting your chosen site to check what it's like, and whether there are suitable paths for the more elderly/less mobile mourners.

Condolences for your impending loss OP. I pray your mother has a peaceful passing.

Thank you, everyone, for your kind and helpful posts. The natural burial ground we are planning to use does not have any facilities. I think it would be wonderful in summer, but December/January feels much more challenging. Perhaps we should keep the actual burial to just family and have a service elsewhere that others could come to.