Green and Woodland Burials in the UK: How They Work, What They Cost

A natural burial is, at heart, a burial designed to let the body decompose naturally and the ground above it return to nature. Instead of a manicured cemetery with stone headstones, a natural burial ground is typically a field, meadow, or woodland where graves are marked discreetly, if at all, and the land is managed for wildlife.

The UK has a large and well-established natural burial sector, with hundreds of sites open or planned across the country, ranging from established woodlands to new meadows planted specifically for the purpose.

The defining features most sites share are:

• No embalming. Embalming uses chemicals that can leach into the soil, so natural burial grounds usually do not permit it. Where the body needs to be kept for a time before the funeral, sites rely on refrigeration rather than embalming.
• A biodegradable coffin or shroud. Rather than varnished hardwood with metal fittings, natural burials use coffins and shrouds that break down in the ground: willow or wicker, bamboo, seagrass, cardboard, wool, or a simple cloth shroud.
• Discreet or living memorials. Many grounds do not allow traditional headstones. Instead a grave might be marked by a tree, wildflowers, a small wooden plaque, or simply recorded on a map.
• Shallower graves and wildlife-led management. Graves are often a little shallower than in a conventional cemetery, and the land is managed to encourage grasses, wildflowers, and trees.

It is worth being clear that "natural burial" is not a regulated, single standard. Each site sets its own rules, so the features above are the common pattern rather than a guarantee. Always check the specific ground's policy on coffins, memorials, and what you may plant or place at the grave.

There is no single law that defines a "green burial", but there is a recognised standards body. The Association of Natural Burial Grounds (ANBG) was set up in 1994 by the Natural Death Centre, a charity, and it publishes a code of conduct that member grounds agree to follow. ANBG membership is voluntary, with around 64 sites belonging to the Association. The ANBG code gives you a useful checklist of questions to ask any ground, member or not.

The shape of a green burial is much the same as any other, with a few differences in the detail:

1. Register the death and get the paperwork. Before any burial can take place, the death must be registered and you must have the documents the burial ground will ask for.
2. Choose a natural burial ground (or natural section). Visit if you can. Sites differ enormously in feel and in their rules. Ask what is included, what the long-term plan for the land is, and whether you can reserve a specific plot.
3. Decide whether to use a funeral director. You are not obliged to. A green burial is one of the more practical options for families who want to do more themselves.
4. Choose a coffin or shroud. Pick something biodegradable that the site will accept. Costs vary widely.
5. Hold the ceremony. Natural burial grounds tend to be relaxed about the form of service. Many welcome a humanist, religious, or entirely personal ceremony, often at the graveside.
6. Mark the grave as the site allows. This might be a tree, wildflowers, a small plaque, or a record on a map. If recording your own wishes matters to you, our guide on recording funeral wishes explains how to set them down clearly.

Costs vary a great deal by region and by site, so treat every figure here as a 2026 market estimate rather than a fixed price. A green burial is often, though not always, less expensive than a traditional cemetery burial, mainly because biodegradable coffins cost less and there is usually no headstone or concrete grave liner to pay for.

Broadly, in 2026:

• The burial plot commonly runs from around £800 to £2,000, though a plot in a scenic or high-demand area can be more.
• The interment fee is commonly around £400 to £800.
• A biodegradable coffin or shroud ranges widely, from around £200 for a simple cardboard or shroud option to £800 or more for a finely made willow coffin.
• A memorial tree or planting, where offered, might add roughly £50 to £200.

Taken together, the burial-ground costs often land somewhere around £1,500 to £3,500. Add a funeral director's fees and the total cost of a woodland funeral commonly falls between about £2,500 and £6,000, depending on the site and the level of service. For the wider picture on what funerals cost and the help available, see our guide to funeral costs in the UK.

Green burial is legal everywhere in the UK, but the rules on registration, paperwork, and where a burial may take place are set nation by nation.

If the idea appeals but burial does not suit your circumstances, you may want to read about water cremation, an alternative to flame cremation that is becoming available in parts of the UK. Our guide on water cremation in the UK explains how it works and where it stands legally.

Because sites vary so much, the most useful thing you can do is ask the right questions before you commit:

• What is the long-term plan for the land? Ask whether the site is legally protected from future development, and what happens to it once it is full.
• What can mark the grave? Confirm exactly what is allowed: a tree, wildflowers, a plaque, or nothing at all.
• What coffins and shrouds are accepted? Check the site's list, and whether a shroud-only burial is permitted.
• Can you reserve a specific plot in advance? Some grounds let you choose and reserve a spot; others allocate the next available space.
• What is included in the price, and are there any recurring fees? Get everything itemised in writing.
• Is the ground a member of the ANBG? Membership gives you a recognised standard to hold the site to.

Many people who want a natural burial like to record that wish clearly, so the family is not left guessing. You can note your preference in a will or a separate statement of wishes, and some natural burial grounds let you reserve a plot in advance. Funeral wishes recorded on their own are not legally binding on your executors, so it helps to talk to family as well as writing things down. If you are putting plans in place more broadly, our guide to prepaid funeral plans sets out how those work and what to watch for.