Burial Costs Explained: Why Natural Burial Is a More Affordable Choice

Have you ever wondered how much natural burial costs?

Perhaps you might be under the impression that it is a more expensive option and therefore not a feasible choice for many people.

It’s something we hear a lot when talking about natural burial: “but isn’t that really expensive?”

At a time when costs of living – and dying - are higher than ever, planning an affordable goodbye should not mean families feel unable to choose beautiful resting places and meaningful celebrations of life for their loved ones.

Funeral directors

When someone dies, most people get in touch with their local funeral director. A funeral director is someone who can guide you through the next steps, and take the lead on arranging transportation of the deceased, recommending coffins or urns, and managing the legal paperwork.

(For more information on what to do when someone dies, read our blog here.)

The costs of a funeral director include:

• Looking after the deceased until the funeral
• Hearse
• Staff and professional services such as advice
• Crematorium and/or church ceremony
• Costs of the coffin and casket

If hiring a celebrant to lead the service, there will be additional costs involved.

Many of these costs are unavoidable, and, when working with the right provider, well worth the investment. Having a team of trusted professionals who know exactly what to do and how to do it can relieve huge amounts of pressure and overwhelm, and act as an emotional support as well. We have a list of recommended suppliers here.

The hidden costs of burial or interment

With the costs already mounting, when it comes to the actual burial or interment, which are separate from those of the funeral director, these fees can come as quite a shock.

There’s an assumption that council-run cemeteries offer the lowest cost, with many not realising that alternative options even exist.

Below, we have compiled prices of city council cemeteries local to each of our burial grounds in Nottingham, Leicestershire and Peterborough. Prices have been taken from the After Loss Guide.

Making a difficult time a little easier

Our process – from the moment you or your funeral director first contact Tithe Green to the day itself – has been designed to make things as straight-forward and easy to navigate as possible.

For example:

1. No repeat lease fees

At many burial grounds or cemeteries, you ‘lease’ the plot rather than buy it outright, which can cover anywhere from 30 years, to 50 years, to 99 years.

After this period, renewals or extensions come into effect, which vary depending on the burial ground or cemetery.

Whilst 30 or 50 years seems like a long time away, it can be incredibly distressing for a family to feel like their loved one’s resting place is not ‘forever’. Thinking about repeat fees – even way into the future – can be overwhelming. And, as we all know, grief knows no timeline. For a family, revisiting the death of a loved one by being asked to pay lease extension fees, even 30 years later, can cause upsetting feelings to resurface.

At Tithe Green, you only have to go through the process of purchasing a burial or interment plot once. After that, it’s yours forever. No renewal fees, no maintenance fees, no having to think about what happens years down the line.

Whilst of course we can’t guarantee what the world will look like hundreds of years from now, our sites are not only protected for another 100 years after the sale of each plot, but, when they’re full, will become woodland protected by a trust.

2. Grave markers and memorial plaques included

When arranging a funeral for a loved one, the list of “extras” that are needed can feel endless. Purchasing the grave, then the interment fee, then the permit to have a memorial, then the memorial itself.

At Tithe Green, our cost includes all of this. Bespoke Welsh slate plaques are included in all our burial and interment options. For our woodland setting, the cost of a memorial tree is factored in, which we replace for free if it has not grown within 5 years.

3. No out of area fees

For many burial grounds or cemeteries, charges apply when the deceased lives outside the local borough. This can cause issues in a variety of different scenarios – for example, if the deceased moved away but wished to be laid to rest where they grew up.

At Tithe Green, there are no out of area (or non-residency) fees. Everyone is welcome. We understand that there are myriad reasons someone may wish to be laid to rest somewhere they don’t currently live, and we never want to make a difficult time more distressing by adding extra barriers.

4. The option to plan ahead

Many cemeteries do not offer the ability to pre-purchase a plot in advance. This means that people can’t plan ahead: making arrangements that can bring peace of mind to them, and comfort to their family when the time comes.

We’re passionate about spreading the word for planning ahead, and how empowering it can be to make your wishes known to loved ones.

We welcome people to visit us at our natural burial ground. This can be done by appointment, when a member of the team can meet you on site, show you around, and answer any questions you might have – or you are welcome to simply visit whenever you like to explore and see if it feels right for you.

For more information on natural burial at Tithe Green, click here.