As part of my funeral celebrant training, I am tasked with visiting a natural burial ground and this is pretty good as I have been wanting to visit GreenAcres in Rainford since I first started thinking about adding funerals to my celebrant portfolio.
The reason that I wanted to visit is firstly to get familiar with the ceremony room, staff and technical aspects like how to cue any music or visual tributes, but also just because I am curious person and was interested in how they might do things a little different.
I have to say, I was so impressed with everything that they told me and I saw. The staff were so kind and helpful to me as a new funeral celebrant and they were gracious enough to offer me a buggy tour of the wooded area and grounds so I could see for myself where people could be a laid to rest.
They don’t allow traditional marble or granite headstones, but more natural markers, usually made of wood are added with people allowed to also add benches or similar things to their loved one’s space. There are particular family trees, which are literal trees that family can request all members are all laid to rest next to.
The whole vibe was so calm and full of nature and because there is a path around the wood that is accessible, its easy to walk round and visit.
I have nothing at all against traditional cemeteries, they hold so much love and peace as a final resting place for so many people – but I also love this as an alternative. I feel very lucky that I live so close to this and that the people of St Helens and across Merseyside have access to such a natural option.
Gill x