Green Funerals

An environmentally friendly funeral

Natural & Eco Funerals

What is a green funeral?

A green funeral, also known as a natural or eco-friendly funeral, is an environmentally conscious way to honour a loved one. This approach focuses on reducing the environmental impact of traditional burial practices. It typically involves using biodegradable materials for caskets or shrouds, avoiding embalming chemicals, and choosing natural burial sites that conserve land and protect wildlife habitats.

Green funerals are suited for individuals who have a strong commitment to environmental sustainability or who wish to minimize their ecological footprint even after passing. They are ideal for those who appreciate nature, prefer simplicity, or want a final resting place that supports conservation efforts. This eco-friendly option offers a meaningful way to honour a loved one’s life while contributing positively to the environment.

How it works

We’ll collect your loved one and bring them in to our care

Our team will arrange a suitable time to discuss your funeral wishes

We’ll manage the funeral arrangements, taking care of all the finer details, including purchasing a burial plot at your chosen natural burial ground

Your loved one’s funeral will take place on a chosen date and time, with the burial taking place straight after

We are here to support you for as long after the funeral as you need us

What are the benefits of choosing a cremation at Dillamore?

They are the most environmentally friendly option and minimise their impact on the natural world
They provide a meaningful tribute for nature lovers and conservationists
The woodland or wildflower meadow setting is a soothing place to hold a funeral
Visiting your loved one in a beautiful woodland or wildflower can feel comforting

They can be personalised to create a unique and meaningful funeral
Dillamore will provide a caring, smooth and flexible experience
We go out of our way to support the families we work with, and are here for as long as you need us

Bespoke Green Funeral Pricing

A bespoke green funeral service is tailored to a family’s individual wishes. Rather than adhering to a prescribed format, a bespoke funeral allows for individual preferences, and can include personal touches to create a meaningful and memorable tribute to a loved one.

There are three main elements to planning a bespoke funeral...

Our professional services fee - £2,300 Angle Down

Our professional services fee is a fixed fee that covers the arrangement and administration of the funeral. It includes;

Our professional services – £1,250 (included)
Care of the deceased – £275 (included)
Receiving your loved one into our care within a 15-mile radius – £295 (included)
Hearse – £480 (included)
Personal supervision of all the funeral arrangements before, during and after the funeral service
Preparation, collection and distribution of all necessary documentation, including liaising with externals parties on your behalf (such as doctors, ministers, crematoriums, cemeteries etc)
A funeral director and necessary personnel to carry out the funeral in accordance with your instructions
A suitable vehicle, equipment and staff necessary to bring your loved one in to our care
Preparing the deceased according to your instructions
Laying the deceased to rest in their coffin
Providing quality care for your loved one until the day of the funeral
The use of our Chapel of Rest to visit your loved one

A biodegradable coffin - from £550 Angle Down

Below are prices of some of our most popular biodegradable coffins, in order to give you an idea of the price range…

Cardboard Coffin – £550.00
Natural English willow coffin – £790
Solid Oak Coffin – £965.00

To discover our full range of biodegradable coffins, along with their prices, speak to a member of our team.

Additional Chargeable Services Angle Down

Each limousine – £175
Dressing your loved one in their own clothes or gown – £190
Purchasing a burial plot – £TBA
Notices – £TBA
Order of service – £TBA

FAQs

Where will my loved one be kept before the funeral takes place? Angle Down

Unlike many funeral directors, your loved one will stay with us at our premises on Old Road throughout their time with us. This allows us to provide the very best care for your loved one and means you can visit them in our Chapel of Rest whenever you wish.

Where are the nearest natural burial grounds to Dillamore? Angle Down

There are several natural burial grounds within a comfortable driving distance of Leighton Buzzard. These include:

Can I choose a direct green burial or limited-service green burial? Angle Down

Because green funerals are more customisable full-service funerals, they aren’t suitable for direct or limited-service funerals. Our bespoke funeral option is best suited for families wanting a green funeral.

Can I arrange a religious funeral at a green burial ground? Angle Down

Yes – you could hold the funeral service at a chapel or place of worship before the green burial takes place, or alternatively hold a religious funeral at the green burial ground itself.

Can you be embalmed if you choose a green funeral? Angle Down

No – natural burial grounds will specify that the deceased cannot be embalmed. This is because the chemicals used in the embalming process may harm the natural habitat. Each green burial ground will have their own rules and guidelines, which our team will be happy to advise you on.

Are green funerals more expensive than traditional funerals? Angle Down

This all depends on the choices you make for the funeral. For more traditional full-service funerals that includes personalised elements, a green funeral may work out as the more affordable option. For families choosing a low-cost funeral, such as a direct funeral or limited-service funeral, green funerals will be more costly. Our team will be able to guide you on the ways to make a green funeral more affordable.

Can I arrange a green cremation? Angle Down

If cremating your loved one is important, many natural burial grounds provide an option to bury or scatter the ashes on the land. Our team will be able to advise you on this and will support you in making the necessary arrangements.

Can I arrange a traditional funeral with ‘green’ elements? Angle Down

Yes. Although a green funeral takes place at a dedicated burial ground, there is no reason why a traditional funeral can’t be green. Your choice of coffin, whether a person is embalmed, and whether you choose burial or cremation, will all affect how environmentally friendly a funeral is.

Ready to find out more?

We hope this has answered some of your questions regarding green funerals. If you would like to find out more, please complete the form or give us a call, our team will be happy to help.