© 2025 UK Memorials by The Sign Maker, All Rights Reserved

Tag: Navigating Grief In Nature

Making Space for Grief at Christmas

Posted on 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

Navigating Grief In Nature

Posted on by Kate

As much as Uk Memorials is a business with a focus on crafting beautiful bespoke memorials, we also want to be a part of opening the conversation around the experience of grief and loss, and the role that nature can play within it. Though this blog is a little different to the content we usually share, we hope it is a post that you will find useful wherever or whenever this finds you.

Taking A Walk With Grief

Nature can be incredibly healing – allowing us space to be mindful and find an unexplainable sense of peace. Many have suggested that being out in nature can be something that can enable those who are grieving to weave themselves back into a gentle pace of living, even while experiencing one of the deepest aches to exist.   

Being out and about can be a simple way of existing with, and moving through, difficult feelings. Walking allows us to be present while the sensory experience of nature is immersive and can have a calming effect. Walking in nature can also allow grief to be present without it being too overwhelming. Some find it particularly helpful to walk to meaningful places to them or to the person that they have lost. There can be a tangible sense of peace found in the places that have a special meaning to us. For example, I like to walk around the Cheltenham university grounds; I went there often with my grandparents. I find walking there makes me feel connected to my Papa, even though he is no longer with us. There is a lake there with several ducks, as well as seasonal flowers and lots of greenery. Walking there is incredibly nostalgic, as well as being a space outside to explore.

Mental benefits aside, walking in nature can also improve other challenges that may arise with grief. For instance, it is unsurprising that many find that they either sleep too much or not enough. A regular walking routine could improve our sleep quality significantly which may make the world of difference to how we can manage in our day-to-day. 

We would encourage you to take a walk outside in nature when experiencing feelings of grief. Mindfully approaching this time in your life may enable you to find your way with less anguish than before. Take your time, and go at your own pace – just as and when you are ready. 

Nature Exploration

Grief can be wildly unpredictable, but the immersive experience of nature can enable us to feel rooted – even in subtle ways. Actively exploring nature can be a relief to those who are grieving. Renewal and growth in nature can remind us that life hasn’t stood still, even when it feels like it has. Engaging with nature, as opposed to just being surrounded by it, can prevent individuals from ruminating in their grief. Whether out in the forestry or exploring the coastline – nature is all around us! It can be joyous to try new things, like building a den or a fire. I enjoy watching the seasons change noting down what makes each one different from the one before. Absorbing and learning from life around us during a season of grief can be particularly beneficial to children and their families. 

Nature exploration doesn’t have to be something that you do on your own! Finding community is also important for those who are grieving. Groups such as The Wave Project and Ramblers can provide a community in the exploration of the outdoors. They have the potential to transform the loneliness of grief into a time of connection when it is needed most. 

What Can We Do, and who else can support you?

At Uk Memorials, we want to enable you to remember your loved ones with unique celebratory memorials. We care about the pieces that we craft ultimately because we care about you. Our amazing customer service team are on hand to speak with you about your memorials; the team can guide you through the process of designing a memorial as a tribute to your loved one, but ultimately, we know we don’t have all the answers when it comes to grieving. 

Nobody should have to grieve alone. So, a final resource we would like to share with you is Cruse who offer bereavement support in a wide range of ways. All volunteers are trained and are on hand to speak with you about where life finds you. Though navigating grief in nature can be helpful, Cruse may be able to point you in the direction of some professional support too. 

However life looks right now, we hope that things begin to feel on the up soon. Reach out if you need to, and take each day as it comes. Being out and about when grieving might feel daunting, but we hope that it is something that enables you to navigate this time with a greater sense of peace.