Traditional Burial A "traditional burial" in the UK involves the internment of the deceased's body, usually in a deep grave at a cemetary or churchyard. The majority of cemeteries are non-denominational, and so most types of funeral service or ceremony can be conducted there. Advice will also be available from the ministers of the religion or religious organisation that the deceased may have belonged to. Obviously if you choose to be buried in a churchyard, then the type of funeral/ceremony will be dictated by the particular faith practiced there. Grave Plots in cemeteries can be pre-purchased. The person who has died may already have arranged a grave space in a churchyard or cemetery which may be included in the will or papers. If space has already been paid for in a cemetery there will be a Deed of Grant, which should be amongst the deceased papers. The fees vary with plots costing anything from £30 to a few thousand, depending on the location. People should be aware that because of pressure of space, particularly in bigger cities, most burial plots are sold on a system of leasehold of usually 50-75 years with 100 years being the maximum. When a lease is coming to its end, the relatives of the deceased are usually sort, to consider extending it for a fee. However, with families moving around a lot these days, contact can be very difficult if not impossible to achieve. Consecrated churchyards are slightly different. Every parishioner has a right of burial in their local churchyard, provided there is space available and the churchyard has not been closed for burials by Order of the Council. In addition, any person whose name is on the electoral roll of the parish at the time of their death also has a right to burial, as does any person dying in the parish, whoever that person is. Any exceptions to this must have the consent of the church authority who's decision is final, and some churches and parishes have their own slight variations (especially when it comes to memorial types), so best to check with the local priest or minister first. Around 1/3 of the population still choose to be buried in traditional churchyards and cemeteries, meaning that room for over 160,000 new graves has to be found every year, which in some overcrowded urban environments, is starting to be a problem.

Green, Woodland & Natural Burial >Green burial (also known as a Natural or Woodland Burial) is all about keeping things as simple and natural as possible - returning to nature in a way that will not harm the environment, but will actually preserve the landscape and enhance opportunities for wildlife - it's about leaving the world a better place, and is increasingly becoming the environmentally friendly choice. The general principals of this kind of burial are that the body is not to be embalmed (as the main chemicals involved in this process can be environmentally hazardous), a biodegradable coffin (cardboard, bamboo, seagrass, willow or sustainable wood) or shroud is used, and that a native tree or shrub is then often (but not always) planted on, or close to, the grave instead of a large stone memorial. A GPS co-ordinate, scanable micro-chip or even just a small flat engraved stone or wooden plaque may also be used to identify the grave depending on the regualtions of the chosen burial ground. The site is managed to encourage native wildlife, plants and wild flowers. Grounds can be run by private individuals, companies, councils or charities, and many are members of ANBG (Association of Natural Burial Grounds) which has a strict code of practice. Whichever site you choose, try to always visit it first to make sure it's to your liking, and ask questions such as how long the burial rights last for, and how the site will be protected in the future once it is full. There are over 220 sites now dotted around the UK, all eminating from a single site in Carlisle which opened in 1993. It is estimated that with overcrowding issues in many traditional urban burial grounds, green burials could become very much the norm within a generation or two.

Cremation Cremation

Home Burial When asked, the majority of people think that it's against the law to be buried at home, or maybe only allowed under very special circumstances. The truth is however, that as long as certain guildlines are followed to avoid potential public health risks, there is no law what-so-ever against being buried in your own garden, or on private land! Wealthy families with large estates have for centuries, built a mausoleum or burial chambers and vaults on their land, for the burial of a family member, as have certain religious groups (such as the Quakers) who also often used to bury their loved ones in their garden. It is a trend that is again on the increase.

Organ / Body Donation Although similar, organ and body donation serve two different purposes - one helps others directly through transplants, and the other indirectly through teaching and research. Becoming an organ donor is very straight forward, where as donating your body to medical science involves a certain amount of pre-planning. If you have no desire to be buried or cremated, and quite fancy a cheap exit to this world with no fuss, then donating your body may be the option for you.

Burial at Sea A burial at sea, is not only an option for former sailors or Naval personnel, but an option available to everybody. In recent times it hasn't been that popular in the UK, with only a few dozen being carried out each year, at only 2 designated sites in England. Its popularity however, is suggested to be on the increase, as the strict regulations surrounding Sea burial mean it's quite a green way to go. Most of the information below can also be found by clicking on the following link for the government department responcible, called the Marine Management Organisation. Alternatively contact Britannia Shipping at www.burialatsea.co.uk who are one of the few companies offering such a service.

Mummification The practise of mummification was common among early cultures in many corners of the ancient world. With the onset of the Dark Ages and the plagues, the art of Mummification began to diminish and almost die out. In 1975 however, an organisation called Summum, first introduced the public to Modern Mummification - a form of mummification that Summum claims uses modern techniques along with aspects of ancient methods. Based in the states, Summum has continued to research, develop, and refine this exoteric art and science. The following outlines how you are cared for through Summum's Mummification of Transference service: " Once you have passed away, your body is transported to the funeral home that was designated by you or your family. There it is prepared to accommodate any viewing or funeral service you may want. " Following the funeral services, under the guidance of the funeral home, it can be shipped to the states (see link on how to "Remove a body from England & Wales") where Summum begin and carefully conduct your Mummification, over several months using a chemical process that is supposed to maintain the body's natural look. " Upon completion, your body is sealed inside your Mummiform or casket. " Your Mummiform or casket can then laid to rest in a sanctuary or mausoleum or buried in a vault in the cemetery of your choice. Although Summum reports that people were mummified early on, when the organization initially developed its process, the majority of mummifications so far carried out by Summum have been on deceased beloved pets, at the request of their owners. According to some sources however, several thousand people from all walks of life have already signed up to be mummified themselves when their time comes, Mohamed al-Fayed, the owner of the London department store Harrods, reportedly being one of them. There is no set fee for mummification, but a "donation" of about £45,000 is required before you can be accepted, and paired together with the additional costs and red tape involved in getting your body to the states and back, it is not a cheap option. By pre-planning and using specially designed insurance/finance packages however, it is an option that appears quite possible if it takes your fancy. www.summum.org/mummification