View discussion about this idea"; } else { $mb_link = "View discussion about this idea"; } ?> The financial case for woodland burial

The financial case for woodland burial

Ken West

From a leaflet put out by Ken West, manager of the Carlisle local authority woodland burial ground. See also the previous item.

I am often asked to give financial advice in support of woodland burial. This is usually by people who want their local authority to offer the woodland option in a conventional cemetery or perhaps on a new site; and by those submitting a planning application for a woodland site and being opposed by the local authority, who are also the local burial authority.

'My brief is sustainability - to indicate how unsustainable conventional cemeteries are'

In attempting to offer meaningful information, I have approached the task as an advocate of Agenda 21. My brief, therefore, is 'sustainability'. Set out below is data indicating how unsustainable conventional cemeteries actually are, by considering income and expenditure for a single grave.

As current cemeteries still maintain graves from the 1850s, and grave rights are still sold in Scotland and much of England for 100 years, I have used this figure as the basis for my calculations. The figures below may be invalidated where an authority charge higher than average fees and/or limit grave rights to a low period, say 30 years, and thereafter make a maintenance charge, say every five years.

'Conventional cemeteries always operate at a considerable deficit'

Such financial logic is rare at the current time, except in Europe. This situation will have to change because conventional cemeteries always operate at a considerable deficit, which is borne by the local authority. These figures are based on my experience in a cemetery completing about 400 burials each year, so allowances will be required for a smaller operation. The cost are intended to highlight the financial benefits of the woodland grave versus the conventional grave, and not to highlight the actual profits for a woodland burial business.

Set-up costs

Conventional grave: Requires higher level of road access, kerbing, drainage, turfing and horticultural works than woodland grave. Costs offset by 990 graves to the acre (4' x 11' for double grave with path access). As new cemetery costs vary due to the quality of walls, gates, and whether a chapel is included, I have not attempted an estimate of costs.

Woodland grave: Lower site costs, especially in a rural location, but only 537 graves to the acre (9' x 9' per double grave). I have no experience of opening a new site, as Carlisle's Woodland is part of an existing cemetery complex with prior planning approval.

Income - Interment fee

Conventional grave: Assume an average fee charge at £220 less cost for contractor to excavate grave to 6' depth of £190, the surplus income of £30 to be allocated to maintenance costs.

Woodland grave: Assume same fee less cost for excavating grave to 4'3" of £150, leaving surplus income of £70. Assume cost of tree and planting to equate to re-turfing conventional grave and ignore.

Income - Sale of Rights

Conventional grave: Assume an average fee of £230 per grave for two burials. Anticipate higher management costs due to regular visits of mourners, memorial records, maintenance checks, etc. Estimated cost of staff, office, records, telephones, fuel, etc is £100 per grave, leaving £130 allocated to cover maintenance costs.

'Lower management costs as no memorial, fewer public visits, no re-turfing, etc'

Woodland grave: Assume same fee. Note that there are lower management costs because there is no memorial on the grave, fewer public visits, no re-turfing as grave sinks, etc. Estimate £80 per grave, leaving surplus income of £150 per burial.

Income - Memorial fee

Conventional grave: Assume an average fee of £40 for the right to place a memorial, but as this memorial will require at least two safety repairs over the 100 year term at an estimated £25 per occasion, assume loss of £10 per grave.

Woodland grave: If wanted, a memorial plaque scheme will increase income but without any long-term safety implications. Estimate £60 surplus per grave for memorial income.

Maintenance costs

Conventional grave: Estimated (1999) at £4 per annum for good standard, with fortnightly mowing. Inflated at 4 per cent per year, this amounts to £633.60 after 50 years, and £5,125.18 after 100 years.

Woodland grave: No regular maintenance costs, but allow for some formative pruning, weed control, beating-up costs, etc at £40 per grave.

Financial conclusion

Conventional grave: Surplus on interment fee of £30 plus surplus on Sale of Right at £130 less memorial fee loss of £10 plus maintenance cost results in deficit of: 50 years = £783.36; 100 years = £5275.18

'A woodland grave results in a surplus of £240'

Woodland grave: Surplus on interment fee of £70 plus surplus on Sale of Right at £150 plus memorial income of £60 less maintenance cost of £40 per grave results in a surplus of: £240 (this suggest that fees could be lower to promote demand).

Ken West, Carlisle Woodland Burials, Carlisle Cemetery, Richardson Street, Carlisle, Cumbria CA2 6AL, UK (tel 01228 625310; e-mail: kenw@carlisle-city.gov.uk).

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