As our world becomes increasingly conscious of the environmental impact of our choices, funerals are no exception. Traditional burial practices often rely on materials and processes that can leave a heavy environmental footprint. However, eco-friendly alternatives, such as those offered at GreenAcres Living Memorial Parks, are transforming how we honour our loved ones while protecting the planet for future generations. At the forefront of this movement is the innovative Loop Living Cocoon™, a groundbreaking eco-coffin that exemplifies the future of sustainable burials.

The Growing Importance of Green Burials

Eco-friendly burials are designed to minimise the environmental impact of traditional funeral practices. By prioritising biodegradable materials, reducing emissions, and avoiding harmful chemicals, green burials offer a more harmonious way of returning to the earth. GreenAcres Living Memorial Parks have embraced this philosophy by providing tranquil woodland and parkland where families can say goodbye in a way that honours both their loved ones and the natural world.

Key elements of eco-friendly burials include:

GreenAcres Living Memorial Parks are uniquely designed to support these principles, offering not only a serene resting place but also a commitment to environmental stewardship.

Introducing the Loop Living Cocoon™

The Loop Living Cocoon™ represents a revolutionary step in green funerals. Made from mycelium – the underground root network of mushrooms – and upcycled hemp fibres, this eco-coffin is 100% natural and fully biodegradable. Remarkably, it biodegrades within just 45 days, enriching the soil and increasing biodiversity. And a tree was not cut down to create this type of coffin.

Why Mycelium? Mycelium is nature’s ultimate recycler. It transforms organic matter into nutrients, shares resources with the forest floor, and enhances soil quality. By utilising mycelium, the Loop Living Cocoon™ not only minimises environmental harm but actively contributes to a healthier planet.

Features of the Loop Living Cocoon™

Its hydrophobic properties make it suitable for all weather conditions, and it can be stored indefinitely when kept in a dry, ventilated space.

Redefining Legacies

Choosing the Loop Living Cocoon™ is more than an eco-friendly decision; it’s a statement about the legacy you wish to leave. By choosing a coffin that enriches the soil and promotes biodiversity, you create a living memorial that continues to give back to the earth. This aligns perfectly with GreenAcres’ mission to sustain and enhance our natural landscapes for generations to come.

Loop will have a distribution centre in the UK, meaning UK Funeral Directors will be able to purchase the Loop Living Cocoon™ on request.

A greener future

At GreenAcres Living Memorial Parks, we believe that everyone should have the information and options to make meaningful and environmentally conscious funeral choices. As we move toward achieving net-zero emissions across our business, innovations like the Loop Living Cocoon™ play a vital role in shaping the future of funerals.

Loop Biotech have also created an urn called Loop EarthRise™, just like the coffin – this feeds the earth and improves biodiversity, meaning that your loved one’s ashes can be a source for nature to flourish within the woodland, meadow, orchard, garden or lawn area of any GreenAcres Living Memorial Park. The Loop EarthRise™ urns are available to purchase directly from GreenAcres Living Memorial Parks.

If you’re planning for yourself or a loved one, consider the environmental impact of each decision. From biodegradable coffins to woodland and wildflower meadow burials, every choice can make a difference. Together, we can honour our loved ones while preserving the beauty of our planet.

To learn more about our eco-friendly burial options visit GreenAcres Living Memorial Parks. To find out more on Loop Biotech and the Loop Living Cocoon™ and Loop EarthRise™, visit Loop Living Cocoon™ – World’s first living coffin. Let’s create a legacy that honours life and nurtures the earth.

Event Overview

Cafés are held within the beautiful landscapes of our Parks where you can feel the uplifting and healing
power of nature around you. When you lose someone you love, meeting others who can relate to how you feel can help. We promise you a warm welcome from our experienced and compassionate team.

All are welcome. Free coffee and cake! Booking is advised.

While it’s not something we generally talk about out loud, many of us hope to leave behind more than just memories after death. We want to be remembered – not just for what we did, but for who we were and how we made others feel. Whether through the life lessons we’ve shared or the heirlooms we’ve passed down to new generations, the idea of leaving a legacy means our story will live on in the hearts and minds of our loved ones.

You might be wondering how you can create a legacy that lives on long after you’ve gone. From choosing your final resting place to contributing to your community, this blog explores the steps you can take to create a lasting legacy that continues long after death.

Document your life’s story

Whether through a memoir, diary or even video recordings, documenting your life’s journey can inspire your loved ones and future generations – including even family members you won’t meet. By sharing your triumphs, challenges and the lessons you learned along the way, you not only keep your memory alive once you’ve gone, but you can also help others understand their place in your family’s history. Your story becomes a bridge between the past and the future, offering both comfort to those you leave behind and a connection between you and those who come long after you.  

Pass heirlooms down to your loved ones

Passing down heirlooms is a lovely way to preserve your legacy and keep your memory alive – especially if your loved ones had a particular fondness for some of your cherished belongings. Whether it’s a piece of jewellery, a treasured ornament collection, photographs, videos, recipes or a handwritten letter, the sentimental value of your heirlooms means these items become reminders of who you were and the things you loved when you were alive. They can also be passed on through the generations, connecting you to your family long after you’re gone.

Contribute to your community

Having a positive impact within your community can create a legacy that lasts for years after your death. No matter how big or small, things like volunteering, mentoring people who need guidance or supporting local causes ensure your name is associated with positive progress within your local area. Don’t forget to talk to your loved ones about all the good things you’ve done so they’re aware of your impact within the community. After all, they’re bound to want to shout about your achievements to anyone who’ll listen.

Pre-plan your funeral

Part of creating a legacy that lives on after you’ve gone is choosing how – and where – you’d like to be remembered. End-of-life planning helps ease the financial burden on your family and also allows you to get the funeral you want. It might feel strange to think about pre-planning your own send-off, but there are several benefits if you’d like to have control over the final part of your life. Read our guide to pre-planning a funeral to find out more. 

Choose your final resting place

Considering how you’d like to be remembered helps create a long-lasting legacy. Choosing your final resting place ahead of time comes with many benefits – for example, you can find a resting place that reflects who you are and serves as a meaningful tribute to your life, values and the memories you’ve shared with loved ones.

By choosing a GreenAcres Living Memorial Park, you’ll have comfort in knowing that your final resting place will be in the beauty of nature where your loved ones will want to visit time after time. You have the choice of peaceful woodlands, stunning wildflower meadows and relaxing, well-cared-for parkland. We’ve created different Park Experiences to give you more choice when looking for a memorial that serves as a special legacy for years to come.

Find out more about our five distinctive Park Experiences.

Final Resting Place

Event Overview

As February invites us to remember those who have shaped our lives, join us for our Family Remembrance Service to celebrate cherished memories and the love that remains with us. This special service offers a peaceful moment to reflect and honour loved ones in our Living Memorial Park

Please follow the booking process to secure your spaces at the Chiltern Park Family Remembrance Service — Sunday 16 February 11:00 am.

Event Overview

As February invites us to remember those who have shaped our lives, join us for our Family Remembrance Service to celebrate cherished memories and the love that remains with us. This special service offers a peaceful moment to reflect and honour loved ones in our Living Memorial Park

Please follow the booking process to secure your spaces at the Epping Park Family Remembrance Service — Sunday 16 February 11:00 am.

When a father experiences the unimaginable loss of a child, most of the focus turns to the mother’s grief. While this support is vital, a father’s pain is often unintentionally overlooked or misunderstood. As a result, many men struggle with their grief in silence and are forced to cope with feelings of isolation and loss without the same level of attention or support. 

This is why spaces like Men’s Sheds are so important. They provide a safe and supportive environment where men can connect with like-minded people, share their worries and find understanding from those going through the same thing. They also give them room to build relationships, rediscover purpose and navigate life’s challenges after loss.  

We understand how painful grief can be. This blog will help guide you through these emotions as well as providing places you can go to seek support.   

The challenges facing grieving fathers

When a father loses a child, men are often expected to remain strong and stoic, so they focus on supporting their families rather than addressing their own emotions. This can leave many fathers feeling isolated and unable to express their grief, heightening their pain and leaving them with no room to heal.  

Acknowledge your grief

If you’ve suffered the loss of a child, it’s important you allow yourself to wholly feel your emotions – good and bad. Give yourself permission to mourn in your own way, whether that’s through quiet reflection, talking to someone or engaging in activities that help you process your feelings. 

Open up to people you trust

It can be tempting or even instinctual to keep your emotions bottled up, but grief isn’t something you can put in a box. Instead, sharing your feelings with someone you trust can help you start to come to terms with your loss. Whether it’s a friend, partner or a support group, talking can help take some of the weight off your shoulders. It can also keep the memory of your loved one alive. You don’t have to speak if you’re not ready; writing a letter or even spending time with your friends and family in silence can bring a sense of comfort. 

Find purpose in activities you enjoy doing

Doing activities, you enjoy can help you find a sense of purpose and normalcy in your grief. Examples could include practical tasks like DIY, hobbies or even volunteering within your local community. Everyday activities provide structure and allow you to channel your energy into something other than your grief – even if it’s only for a few short hours when you feel up to it. 

Consider getting professional help

Sometimes, the weight of grief can feel too heavy to carry alone. Seeking support from a specialist bereavement therapist or counsellor can provide you with the tools you need to navigate your emotions and find a healthy way through your journey with grief.  

Seek support from Men’s Sheds

Building social connections often proves more challenging for men than it does for women. Unlike women, many older men have fewer close friendships and are less likely to open up about personal worries or health concerns. While this isn’t true for everyone, retirement can leave some men feeling adrift, as if they’ve lost their sense of purpose or identity. That’s where Men’s Sheds step in. They offer a way to rediscover connection, community and a renewed sense of belonging. 

Men’s Sheds encourage people to come together to make, repair and repurpose, supporting projects in their local communities. Men’s Sheds are similar to garden sheds, but instead of being solitary, they’re a place where men can build social connections and friendships while sharing skills, knowledge and plenty of laughter.  

While these spaces are known as Sheds, they can be whatever the members (or Shedders as they’re called) want them to be. This can include empty offices, portable cabins, warehouses and garages. The most important thing is that the Sheds offer men the chance to meet like-minded people, share their worries and gain a renewed sense of purpose. That’s why Men’s Sheds are vital. 

There are 900+ Open Sheds across the UK right now. Head over to the website to find a Men’s Shed in your area. You can also learn more about starting your own.

Other supportive bereavement groups

Men’s Sheds aren’t the only support group you can turn to if you need guidance. There are several other resources, charities and networks that offer help and advice, including:  

Find the support you need in a GreenAcres Living Memorial Park

If you’re struggling to come to terms with grief or need someone to talk to, we hold events, remembrance services and bereavement cafés at our Parks throughout the year.  

You may find particular comfort from our bereavement cafés, which are held within the beautiful landscapes of our Parks and provide a kind, supportive space with understanding from others who are also living with life after loss. We also provide grief books, signposting information to other bereavement organisations and other resources to help with your grief journey.  

Head over to our website to find a GreenAcres Bereavement Cafés.