Woodland Cemetery

The Woodland Cemetery situated in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire is created to be an environmentally friendly way of burying loved ones. The Cemetery is developing into a natural wooded area with only British woodland trees, shrubs and plants, so at full maturity the site will be a native woodland.

In this beautiful natural environment the graves are marked only with a small ground level plaque rather than a full tombstone. The Woodland Cemetery enables its members the choice to be buried in an ecologically-friendly manner. The burial can include a coffin made from plain timber, bamboo or wicker all of which decompose naturally.

Although certain stone memorials are permitted, the aim is to ensure that everything else in the cemetery is completely natural, with no plastic or other materials on the graves.

The Woodland Cemetery has a contemporary prayer hall built of environmentally friendly materials. There is a video link for Cohanim, in a separate room. Members can pay tribute to a loved one by the planting a memorial tree, or by placing a commemorative bench.

The Lawn section provides a green alternative for Jewish and non-Jewish burials, with graves surrounded by grass, and marked only by a simple upright stone.

In the Woodland section, relatives have the choice of two areas: the natural area, which will be seeded with grass and meadow plants and is allowed to naturalise immediately with no individual grave spaces delineated, or the garden area. Relatives can arrange for the individual grave to be planted with a specific selection of British woodland plants, there is a separate planting and interment booklet you can request a printed version or download from the website.

In addition, there is a Columbarium where cremated ashes can be interred and marked with a plaque.

Directions:

From the A406 at Great Cambridge roundabout go north up A10 towards Hertford, at last junction before M25 sign posted Capel Manor turn left – Bullsmoor lane and follow instructions below.

The Woodland and Western cemeteries are accessed from south of Junction 25 of the M25

From the M25 exit at Junction 25 and take A10 South in direction of Central London, note almost immediately turn right at traffic lights into Bullsmoor Lane (past Capel Manor). At the mini-roundabout turn right into Bulls Cross and follow road for about 50 yards bending sharp left onto Whitewebbs Lane. Turn first right into Bulls Cross Ride and follow road over M25 to the entrance marked Western Cemetery which is approximately 150 yards on left. Turn sharp left for the Woodland Cemetery.

From the south use A10 for approx 4 miles north of the junction with the North Circular Road. At the traffic lights signposted Crews Hill turn left into Bullsmoor Lane and follow above directions.