Terms & Conditions

April - 2025


Core to the thinking behind Orchard Meadow Natural Burials is the creation of a place of beauty and openness where those left behind will want to come and spend time reflecting and remembering for generations to come. To safeguard the distinctive qualities of the meadow we have set out the following terms and conditions.


It is important to note that Orchard Meadows is neither a park or a garden and that the graves are intended to blend into the surrounding landscape. The ground staff will take steps to maintain the environmental integrity and this will include the right to prune and trim trees as necessary.


Terms and conditions for burials:

  1. Only the owners are permitted to carry out grave digging and planting of trees.
  2. No artificial flowers, pots, etc can be left around the grave and nothing hung from trees or tree guards. However, at Christmas time, Christmas wreaths can be left between the 15th of December until the 6th January when they will be removed. Please make sure that you and your family members understand this and accept these conditions as we are unable to make exceptions later on and it can be upsetting to have items removed. Floral tributes from the day of the burial must be removed from the grave within one week and will be left in the upper shelter.
  3. Registration of deaths; Burials will be undertaken only on receipt of the green form issued by the registrar and will be returned completed to them within 96 hours of the burial.
  4. Purchasing a pre paid grave plot; When purchasing a grave what is actually being acquired is the "Grant of the Right of Burial" (Local Government Act 1972 Section 214) only. Buying a plot does not give you ownership of the land where the plot lies or any other rights there of.
  5. When a plot is purchased in advance, full payment is due at the time of purchase. No refund will be given but a transfer to a third party is permitted. Please keep Orchard Meadows Natural Burials informed of details of the new recipient. It is not possible to choose a particular location when purchasing a pre paid plot, unless the plot has to be adjacent to a spouse.
  6. The licence secures the right to burial for a period of 25 years which can be extended by a further 25 years on the purchase of an extension of time in 5 year intervals up to a maximum of 50 years in total. The licence ceases at 50 years and the grave returns to a natural state. There is a charge of £50 per 5 year interval to contribute to the sites maintenance.
  7. The future management of Orchard Meadows will form part of Orchard Meadows wider management plans but these do not involve development in any way except for agricultural use.
  8. The digging of graves and the planting of the trees is managed solely by Orchard Meadows Natural Burials.
  9. Recording of graves; An accurate digital map of the graves will be maintained as well as a viewable hard copy.
  10. All vehicles must be left in the car parks provided and are left at the owners risk.
  11. Dogs are permitted in controlled manner on short leads.
  12. Ashes are not permitted to be spread on the meadow or surrounding area.
  13. Trees and tree guards are provided and maintained solely by Orchard Meadows Natural Burials. No decorations or additions to the tree guards are permitted. The trees and tree guards form part of the Orchard and cannot be removed or changed for alternatives. Should the tree die then a replacement will be provided and planted by Orchard Meadows Natural Burials.
  14. Open daily 8:30 to sunset.


Terms and conditions for cremated remains:

  1. The burial of cremated remains constitutes the final disposal and the remains cannot be removed or relocated.
  2. The Certificate of Cremation must be handed to Orchard Meadows for registration, in order that records are completed relating to the final disposal of the cremated remains.
  3. Please note that you are not permitted to carry out ash burials yourself in the meadow or to scatter ashes on the surface in any place/location thereon.


Available to all faiths and religions Orchard Meadows Natural Burials is not consecrated ground. 

We reserve the right to amend these terms and conditions if necessary but will not conflict with the ethos of the burial ground or any rights conveyed to you.