Our vision is to create and protect a nature-rich woodland that eventually covers the entire site

Memorial trees are planted on organised days in January. Families who have arranged a burial in the preceding year are invited to choose a tree species and attend these days, when help will be available for those with less than green thumbs. If nobody is able to attend we will plant a tree on your behalf. Please indicate which species you would like on the ‘Application to Occupy’ or ‘Notice of Interment’.

Only trees sourced and supplied by us can be planted here. This is to ensure that all trees are of the correct provenance and are not garden hybrids or trees from foreign nurseries that could introduce disease to the area as has recently happened with Ash trees to the UK.

Creating a natural Planting trees and flowers at Eden Valley Woodland Burial Ground in Kent

Wildlife at Eden Valley Woodland Burial Ground in Kent

A healthy, managed woodland to encourage more species of flower, insect, bird and mammal.

We are not planting species that will become tall standard trees as this would mean that only one in 30 or so families could have a memorial tree. Instead we are planting species that grow to a shrub level. This creates what is known as an ‘understory’ which is a secondary and very important layer of the woodland canopy.

Any whips that fail to thrive will be replaced at our expense, larger saplings will have to be replaced by the family. Failure rate is low with the whips and slightly higher with larger saplings.

If a family prefer they can simply cover their plot with wild flowers or plants from permitted suppliers. If this is what you want to do please speak to Martin or Amy.

If a family prefer they can simply cover their plot with wild flowers or plants from permitted suppliers. Amy can give you contact details of some excellent nurseries.

Trees

You can choose from the following Memorial Tree list:

It is important to understand that a whip tree is a very young tree, around 12months old. These infant trees will be between two to four feet in height and will be skinny. At the time of planting in January they will look like sticks with roots, as they will not be in leaf. If you would like a bigger tree you should ask for a sapling tree, these trees are about 5 years old and typically between five to seven feet in height.

A whip tree is included with the purchase of a full burial plot. A sapling tree will cost between £80 to £100.

Hazel – A nut producing shrub level tree. Its catkin flowers emerge in mid to late January providing vital nectar for early emerging insects such as Bumble Bees.

Spindle – A shrub with unusual and pretty pink, geometric shaped berries.

Guelder Rose – Not a rose but a Viburnum with wonderful autumn colour and shiny, bright red berries.

Crab Apple – A wild apple providing spring blossom and small colourful crab apples in autumn.

Wild Cherry – Another blossom producing tree. N.B cherry trees do not live very long (20-30 years only).

Sweet Chestnut – Produces edible nuts with long serrated edged leaves.

Flowers

Many families wish to inject some instant colour onto the burial plots. This is possible but has to be tightly controlled. Without guidance and regulations the land could be covered with non-native species and garden invaders, which could cross-pollinate and damage the natural status of the site. Amy will send you our native plant list if you request it.

Please do not spend money with nurseries who market ‘wildflowers’, they are unlikely to be of the right provenance and we may well have to remove these plants from the site.

Obviously, flowerbeds cannot be established and soils from elsewhere may not be spread over the graves. Flowers may not be tied to trees or stakes and vases may not be secretly sunk into the ground; they become death traps for small animals. Please ensure that your family and friends who may visit the grave understand this. We wish to avoid any upset.

Please click here to download our approved planting list

If you are going to order plants to plant on a grave at Eden Valley we suggest that you start slowly with a few plants, in particular primrose and cowslips. From experience it is best to see how a few plants get on and then add to them over time. As a natural burial ground we have an abundance of wildlife, particularly rabbits, which can be attracted to freshly planted vegetation, so there is always the possibility plants will be eaten.

EDEN VALLEY BURIAL GROUND APPROVED PLANTING LIST