Recent discussion about diminishing burial space across England and Wales has put the future of cemeteries back in the spotlight. It has also prompted more people to consider whether there is an alternative to traditional burial that still provides a permanent and meaningful resting place.
For many people, burial remains an important choice. It may be part of their faith or culture, a long-held personal preference, or simply feel more appropriate than cremation. But choosing burial does not necessarily mean choosing a traditional cemetery grave, headstone and conventional funeral service.
Woodland and natural burial offer another option – and for families looking for something simpler, Harrison Funeral Home’s Direct Burial service combines a natural final resting place with a straightforward approach to the funeral itself.
Why are we talking about burial space?
The availability of burial space has become an increasingly important issue in England and Wales.
The Law Commission has been reviewing outdated burial and cremation laws, including the pressures facing cemeteries where available grave space is limited. Its final report on burial and cremation was published in March 2026 as part of a wider programme examining how the law surrounding funerals and the care of the deceased should work in the future.
It is a complicated issue and, of course, it does not mean that traditional burial is disappearing.
What it does is encourage a wider conversation about the different ways we can choose to be laid to rest, including options that many families may not know are available.
Why consider an alternative to traditional burial?
Traditional cemetery burial remains the right choice for many people. Having a headstone, a defined grave and a familiar place for family and friends to visit can be extremely important.
Others may be looking for something different. They may prefer a more natural setting, want a simpler funeral, feel uncomfortable with cremation or be considering the financial implications of purchasing a traditional cemetery plot.
For those families, woodland and direct burial are options worth knowing about.
What is a woodland burial?
A woodland or natural burial takes place in a natural setting rather than a conventional cemetery.
Instead of rows of traditional headstones, the landscape itself is an important part of the burial ground. Depending on the individual site, a grave may be marked by a tree or a simple plaque, with restrictions on conventional memorials helping to preserve the natural character of the area.
For some families, that simplicity is precisely the appeal.
A woodland burial can offer a peaceful final resting place surrounded by nature, without some of the formality traditionally associated with a cemetery.
So, what is a Direct Burial?
The word “direct” has become familiar in recent years largely because of the growth of direct cremation. But a Direct Burial is a different proposition.
Harrison Funeral Home’s Direct Burial service provides a simple burial in one of two woodland burial grounds. The current cost starts from £3,350 and includes the burial plot and burial fees, as well as Harrison’s professional services, collection and care of the person who has died, a simple eco-friendly coffin and transport to the burial ground.
*Prices and service details are correct at the time of publication (October 2026) and may be subject to change. Please contact Harrison Funeral Home or view our current Direct Burial service information for up-to-date pricing.
The inclusion of the grave itself is significant. With a conventional burial funeral, the cost of purchasing a cemetery plot is normally separate from the funeral director’s charges and can represent a substantial additional expense. Harrison’s Standard and Traditional Funeral packages, for example, do not include the burial plot.
Direct Burial therefore offers another option for someone who wants to be buried but would prefer a simpler funeral – or for whom the cost of a traditional burial presents a difficulty.
Does Direct Burial mean nobody can attend?
No – and this is perhaps one of the biggest misconceptions surrounding the word “direct”.
A Direct Cremation is normally unattended. A Direct Burial does not have to be.
With Harrison’s Direct Burial, family members can attend the burial and say a few words at the graveside if they wish. Alternatively, the burial can take place without mourners present.
For families who would like something a little more formal, a minister or civil celebrant can also be arranged at an additional cost to conduct a small graveside service.
It means that simple doesn’t have to mean impersonal.
For one family, the right choice may be an unattended burial followed by a separate gathering to remember their loved one. For another, it might mean standing together at the graveside, sharing a reading or a few words and saying goodbye surrounded by woodland.
There is no single correct way to do it.
What happens instead of a headstone?
This is one of the most noticeable differences between a conventional cemetery and a woodland burial ground.
The woodland cemeteries used for Harrison’s Direct Burial service do not permit traditional headstones. Depending on the cemetery, graves can instead be marked with either a tree or a wooden plaque.
For some people, having a traditional headstone and a clearly defined grave to visit is extremely important. If that is the case, woodland burial may not be the right choice.
For others, the idea of a tree or simple marker within a natural landscape feels more appropriate.
Neither approach is better than the other. They simply offer different ways of remembering someone.
Is woodland burial more environmentally friendly?
Natural and woodland burial grounds are designed to have less impact on their surroundings than conventional cemeteries, with fewer permanent structures and an emphasis on preserving the natural landscape. Harrison’s Direct Burial also includes a simple eco-friendly coffin.
However, environmental considerations are only one reason somebody might choose this kind of burial.
For many families, the attraction is simply the setting: somewhere peaceful and natural that feels less formal than a traditional cemetery.
Others are drawn to the simplicity of the funeral itself.
Can a Direct Burial still be personalised?
Yes.
The basic Direct Burial is deliberately simple, but that does not prevent a family from making choices that feel personal to them.
Flowers can be arranged, for example, and families can choose to attend the graveside. Harrison can also arrange additional elements such as a celebrant or minister, memorial cards or different transport if required. These additions may involve extra costs.
Families may also decide that the burial itself should remain very simple and hold a separate memorial or celebration of life at another time.
Sometimes separating the burial from the larger gathering gives people more freedom over how and when they choose to remember someone.
A different way to think about burial
Funerals have changed enormously over the years, and the choices available to families continue to evolve.
Traditional cemetery burial remains important to many people and will continue to be the right choice for many families. But it is no longer the only way to choose burial.
For someone who wants a natural resting place, prefers a simpler funeral, does not want cremation, or is looking for a more affordable route to burial, a Direct Burial may be worth considering.
Perhaps, most importantly, knowing that alternatives exist enables people to make a choice based on what feels right for them, rather than simply following a tradition because they were unaware of the other possibilities.
At Harrison Funeral Home, our Direct Burial service starts from £3,350, including the burial plot and burial fees. Our team can explain how the service works, the woodland burial grounds available and the different ways in which a Direct Burial can be personalised.
Get in touch with us to find out more about Direct Burial at Harrison Funeral Home.
Harrison Funeral Home
Serving families with care and compassion across Enfield, Winchmore Hill, and Highgate: North London’s trusted name in funeral care.
Telephone (24-hour support): 020 8819 3465
Email: info@harrisonfuneralhome.co.uk
