Henley-On-Thames Burial Ground

Description

From London, the woodland burial ground at Henley-on-Thames is easily accessible via the M4 or A40. The riverside of the Thames and the charming setting of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty make the trip worthwhile.

The woodland burial ground is located on Greys Green Farm, in the village of Rotherfield Greys. The owners of Greys Green Farm are dedicated to planting new native woodland on land that was previously arable farmland and pasture for dairy cattle. Their objective is to conserve and enhance the natural beauty and essential character of the area by planting new woodland. Since 1985, they have planted more than 100 acres of new woodland, converting what was once an arable wildlife desert of more than 400 acres of cornfields into new wildlife habitats with extensive public access.

This year, they have planted a new woodland, "Sam's Spinney", dedicated to the memory of their son, Sam Hood, who died in 2009 and is buried within the new burial ground.

The vision for the natural burial ground at Greys Green Farm is to extend the area of the newly planted spinney across the whole burial ground, linking it with the mature woodland (The Paddocks) to the west. This goal, to create a wild woodland, of trees that are native to this area, which will support a great diversity of wildlife and wildplants - distinctly different from other cemeteries and memorial parks.

We are delighted that The Royal Forestry Society will be developing a relationship with Native Woodland Limited on the new woodland burial scheme at Henley-on-Thames. Their expertise and good work will benefit us all.