nature Archives - UK Memorials

How To Help Nature Prepare For Winter

Posted on 4th September 20244th September 2024 by Kate

As we notice the sun setting a little earlier and the wind blow just a bit chillier we begin to get excited to see the trees change from vibrant green to deep orange and cosy nights by the fire. However, for the natural world, these changes signal the need to prepare for the challenging, cold months ahead. At UK Memorials, we believe in lending a hand to nature, helping wildlife find ways to survive the winter more easily.

Hedgehog Homes and Toad Abodes

You may not realise this but hedgehogs actually hibernate over the winter months and it is very important to their survival to find a spot that will keep them warm and safe. In the 1950s is was estimated that there was over 30 million hedgehogs in the UK whereas now they estimate it only be around 1 Million so we really want to make sure to give them a hand this winter. You can purchase a hedgehog box online or you can craft one from scratch. RSPB have an amazing video to guide you how to craft a box which you can watch by clicking here.

Once you have your box you want to fill it with a layer of dead and dry leaves. Hedgehogs prefer small leaves such as birch, oak, hawthorn or hazel. You then want to find a shady, quiet spot where it won’t be disturbed. The entrance should be out of the wind, you want to cover the entire box with woody garden cuttings and leaves but make sure to leave the ventilation pipe clear.

Toads do not hibernate through winter but they do spend a large amount of their time nestled away trying to keep warm. Creating old long stores or even and old pot on its side with lots of leaves in can create a toasty home for toads to stay warm in.

Clear out Bird Boxes

Now that the birds have raised their young they won’t need their bird boxes so now is a great time to clear and clean them out. It is recommended that you take out all the nesting material and disinfect the box. The safest time to do this is during October and November as there won’t be any birds using the boxes during this time. Clearing out the old matter and disinfecting the boxes helps to remove any ticks and fleas, along with their eggs and helps to reduce the risk of diseases such as Avian Influenza.

Feed Nature

Another wonderful thing you can do to help wildlife during the winter months is to provide food and water sources. .

Birds often struggle to find food during the colder months, so adding extra feeders can make a big difference.

Some people also leave food out for foxes, squirrels, and badgers. For squirrels, nuts, chopped apples, and carrots are ideal, while cooked meats are a favorite for foxes and badgers.

Water might be something you would not have to think to provide wildlife in nature, as we are in North Devon we see rather a lot of it through the winter months. But as the months delve into December and January when hard frost might be found, water sources freeze up. We recommend putting fresh water out or breaking holes in the ice for wildlife to drink from.

We hope you have enjoyed reading this blog. If you want to read more of our blogs click here.

If you want to learn more about what we do for the environment visit our parent companies website by clicking here.

Tel – 01769 618585

Email – sales@uk-memorials.net

Making Space for Grief at Christmas

Posted on 19th December 202224th May 2023 by Peak Online

In a season surrounded with seemingly endless festive cheer, making space for grief at Christmas time might feel a little strange. There are expectations of family fun and a universal prerequisite for feelings of hope and of joy. However, at UK Memorials, we appreciate that those experiencing feelings of grief (whether over a recent loss or for somebody who died many years before), may be seeking comfort throughout this particular period. We first want to say that our hearts go out to anybody seeking space for their grief this Christmas. Our thoughts are with you and we hope that this short blog post can offer a few words of advice for this season.

Ways To Make Space For Your Grief At Christmas Time

Talk About It!

In British culture especially, we tend to shy away from conversations about death or grief, but we know how important it is to talk about those that we miss having around us. When crafting memorials for people, we find that individuals want the space to be able to express how they are feeling at a time of grief – so remember to continue having those difficult conversations; even at Christmas time. You could open with a memory, reflect on your feelings of missing somebody or intentionally ask others around you how they are feeling at this time to pave way for honest conversation.

Tangible Reminders

While there is no right or wrong way to express or experience grief, sometimes having a more tangible reminder can be a way of acknowledging your grief. Something might immediately jump out as to what that might be for you, but if not – here are a few ideas.

A chosen decoration or something engraved may provide a gentle reminder of somebody special. Below you can see pictured a snowglobe that one of our team keeps out all year round, but it takes a more prominant place at Christmas as a reminder of their Nana. Certain foods or songs can also be beautiful ways of introducing your memories to Christmas time without them being upsetting. For example, we know individuals who recreate a specific pudding their parents made at Christmas to honour their lives in a subtle but tangible way.

As memorial specialists, we have also crafted numerous bespoke memorials that allows individuals, families and communties to create a tribute that celebrates a loved one. Whether for a home memorial or a final resting place, many find a memorial to be a special way of celebrating the life of a loved one.

Tangible Memories and Memorials | Making Space for Grief at Christmas by UK Memorials

Making Space In Nature

Surround yourself with life by making space in nature. If you’ve followed along with us (or our sister company, The Sign Maker) for a while now, you’ll know that we love keeping an eye on the local wildlife. We know there to be numerous benefits from spending time out in nature; from lowering stress to creating a space to remain in the present moment, finding your way outside this Christmas might give you the breathing space necesary to grieve in a way that isn’t so overwhelming.

They say ‘Robins appear when loved one’s are near’, so maybe try and spot their vibrant redbreast on a wintery walk. Perhaps you find the same sense of hope in the appearance of a rainbow that we do. It might be that you’d enjoy a wander along the beach, or a moment in a local garden. There are infinate tiny snapshots of nature to find and explore, and our hope would be that making this space is somewhat restorative to you too.

Make Space In Nature - Robin and Rainbow | Making Space for Grief at Christmas by UK Memorials

Surround Yourself With Support and Community

Experiencing grief can be challenging enough without trying to do it all alone. Grief can have a way of making us feel isolated, so knowing where you can find support and communtiy could make all the difference. One charity that we always recommend is Cruse. Cruse are the UK’s leading Bereavement charity offering a helpful website, national helpline and even counselling sessions. Their helpline will be open across various hours throughout the festive period, so if you’re looking for support from trained volunteers who can come alongside you at this time – we’d recommend looking in to the support that they offer. The good grief trust also have some great resources that you might like to make use of.

As a result of the pandemic, online communites are also more prominent than ever before. It might be that you’re not looking specifically to talk about your grief, but are instead looking for a communtiy to share this time with. For the past few years, Sarah Millican has been hosting #JoinIn – a virtual campaign for strangers to connect internationally in online spaces. Last year in particular, the feedback was that this was a friendly outreach campaign, so it might be that something like this brings you a little comfort this year.

Click Here for Bereavement Support | Click Here to #JoinIn with Sarah Millican on Christmas Day

Allow Yourself To Feel All Your Feelings

Last, but not least, remember that it is okay to feel multiple things at once. It is possible to both feel and acknowledge grief while still experiencing moments of joy. The two need not be mutually exclusive – it is okay to let a little Christmas magic in no matter what other feelings you experience across this festive season. This might bring up some challenges of it’s own (for instance, feelings of guilt or a heightened sense of grief from time to time), however it serves as a good reminder that life is both beautiful and painful all at the same time.

We’d like to wish you a very Merry Christmas from our whole team here at UK Memorials, and we hope that these little reminders prove helpful no matter the time of year. If there is anything that we can do to support you from a memorial perspective, then please do get in touch and our team will get back to you in the new year.

Telephone: 01769 561355 | Email: sales@uk-memorials.net | https://linktr.ee/thesignmaker

What do I need to ask when considering a Natural Burial?

Posted on 16th July 202016th July 2020 by Kate

Hello to all our lovely readers. We hope you are all keeping well, we have a guest blog today! The lovely Sarah from the Leedam Natural Heritage group has been kind enough to put together some information on Natural Burials and what you need to know when considering one. When considering a natural burial it’s important to make sure ‘natural burial’ is right for you.

Initially, you may want to ask ‘What is a natural burial?

The concept behind natural burial is one of giving back to nature. The body is returned to the earth in a biodegradable coffin, wearing only natural materials without embalming or toxic treatment, everything is as natural as possible. Graves become part of the surrounding countryside. There isn’t the worry of tending to graves, which means people can return as often or as little as they wish, and when they return they have the time, space and peace to connect with nature and to remember the people they love.

Natural burials are becoming a popular choice in the UK.

Is this the right place for me?

It’s important to make sure that you are happy with the natural burial ground you choose and it’s where you want to be. At our natural burial grounds, we have dedicated custodians who can meet you, show you around and answer any questions that you may have. Each burial ground is different; some are woodland, some are meadow, some are a mixture of the two. The best way to see if a natural burial ground is right for you is to visit. If this is not possible you should be able to find out more about a site from the burial ground itself. We have brochures. photographs and information available online for those who cannot visit and our custodians are always happy to answer any questions, including over the phone.

Can I share a plot or arrange to have plots next to each other?

All our plots are single-depth graves which allows a more natural return to the earth, however, we do offer the option to have cremated remains within a natural burial plot. For those who would like to have plots together, where this is possible we can reserve the space and the plot can be pre-purchased so that this is possible. If this is something that you would like it’s important to ask this question to make sure that it is possible to have plots next to each other.

Can I choose my spot?

At some of our natural burial grounds, you can choose which area you prefer, at other plots are allocated in succession. This is definitely something you may want to ask if you have your heart set on a certain area of a natural burial ground.

How do I arrange a natural burial?

Whether you are arranging a natural burial for the future or for a family member or friend who has died there are a number of ways that you can arrange a natural burial. If you are planning in advance you may wish to pre-purchase a plot alongside a funeral plan or pre-purchase a plot with your wishes written for those who will be making the arrangements. This is definitely something to consider if there is a particular plot or place you want to be buried to ensure this is reserved for you. If you are putting a plan together but do not wish to solidify arrangements you may wish to visit and put together information on the natural burial you wish to have and leave instructions for your next of kin. For those arranging a funeral for a loved one who has died this can be arranged through a funeral director or you can arrange a family-led funeral without a funeral director. This is also sometimes also known as a DIY funeral. Whatever your needs are the natural burial should be able to help offer advice on what to do next. We have a range of advice on our website but we are also at the end of the phone to offer advice to those who need help arranging a natural burial.

Photographs from a selection of Natural burial sites in the UK.

What type of coffin can I have?

We request that everything that goes into the ground at our natural burial grounds is biodegradable and of a natural material. There is a range of eco-friendly coffins available from cardboard to wicker, and sustainable wood to reclaimed or handmade wood coffins. Another option is to have a wool coffin or shroud. However, what is allowed at a natural burial ground is very much dependent on the natural burial ground that you are using so it’s something that is good to ask.

What type of funeral service can I have?

You should be able to have whatever funeral service you wish at a natural burial ground. From a religious service to a non-religious service or no service at all. At our natural burials, the burial ground is entirely yours during your service. You can take as much time as you need and make it as personal as you like. In the past, people have said goodbye with only the nearest and dearest present, others with a whole assemblage; some like silence, while you may prefer music from a live band. The day is to remember the person you are burying and so we encourage you to make it special. However, it is important that you make sure the burial ground you are using is able to fulfil your requirements.

Natural burials are becoming a popular option for people in the UK.

Can I have a picnic or wake after the service?

This will depend on the burial ground. It is something we offer at our natural burial grounds and can help with advice on erecting a marquee or pop up trailers for those who want something a bit more in-depth. However, it is a question that is definitely worth asking if you would like to have a picnic or wake following the service to make sure this is something that your chosen natural burial ground can offer.

Am I allowed a memorial?

If you feel that you would like to have a personal memorial for your loved one this is a very important question to ask. We understand how important it is to remember those we love and offer simple natural memorials. At our burial grounds, these cannot be placed on graves as it does not work with how our grounds are sustainably managed. However, plaques bearing the names and dates of people there can be mounted in purpose-built frames or within the memorial shelters. The exception to this is the natural memorial stones that are allowed in the woodland areas at our Scottish sites which are locally sourced and blend into the surrounding woodland becoming a part of the woodland itself. At some of our sites, we also offer memorial trees. Memorials will differ greatly between natural burial grounds and it’s important that you understand what is available. It is worth remembering that when grave markers are used, people inevitably tend those areas and place mementos, and the burial ground moves away from a natural environment to become more like a cemetery.

If you are considering having a natural burial, the burial grounds that you are interested in should be able to help with all of your questions or point you in the right direction of someone who can help.

For further details contact Leedam Natural Heritage
www.leedam.com
email info@leedam.com
01600 716438

To learn more about our natural memorials here at UK memorials click here.