Finding peace in nature

Lee Murphy visits the site of a unique farm diversification that is working with the beauty and tranquillity of nature to provide a peaceful resting place to remember loved ones.

Oxton Estate in Nottinghamshire is a traditional family estate encompassing arable land, woodland, grassland and a number of diversified entities.

It is home to the Tithe Green Natural Burial Ground – a unique diversification project located in beautiful surroundings. Natural burial means being buried in a natural environment instead of a graveyard or cemetery, using only natural materials: no plastic, concrete or chemicals.

The site at Tithe Green was founded by James’s late grandmother 25 years ago and it is one of the earliest natural burial grounds in the UK. It is one of three locations now overseen by co-owners, James and Helena O’Donnell, and is set in 40 acres of woodland and wildflower meadows in the southern part of the old Sherwood Forest.

When reviewing the various diversification projects at the estate, James and Helena saw the potential of growing the natural burial business. Helena, using her experience in consumer brand marketing, relaunched the website and brand for the burial ground, brought in an additional employee, and began offering the services they provide online. The business quickly grew in popularity.

The locations of the burial grounds are clearly one of the endearing features for the business. “Our sites are truly beautiful, tranquil, uplifting places to walk around,” says James. “It is life affirming. It is not what you would expect from a burial ground. You wouldn’t walk around a cemetery and think it is life affirming, but that is truly the experience you get at our sites.”

James adds: “We get families walking around having picnics, people walking their dogs or just coming outdoors to spend time in nature. We are lucky in that we are working with one of the greatest partners you can have. And that is nature.”

James believes this form of diversification needs careful consideration. “The planning process, and indeed the business of natural burial itself, is a sensitive and delicate one, that must be handled with care and due attention and expertise,” explains James. “Planning itself is a costly and potentially lengthy business, but we have become adept at navigating it.”

Building a strong relationship with the local community is important for James and Helena and they hold wildflower planting days for visitors during the year. “Done well, natural burial can benefit the local community and environment.” Says James.

To build on their success, the couple are looking to lease or buy land for more sites. “For interested landowners and farmers, there is a huge upside to letting someone else take care of the planning and management of a site and in return gain a strong return on the use of low yield agricultural land,” says James.

“Natural burial is a growing trend. It is vastly cheaper than a traditional burial, it is significantly more beautiful, environmentally friendly, which is important in the day and age we live in, and it is ecologically positive.” Concludes James.