Environmental Strategy

This strategy outlines the Burial Trust’s vision for creating an environmentally friendly burial park that will enable members of the public to be laid to rest in a tranquil setting and improve the sustainability of the burial process. Our intention is to provide a pleasant green space in which members of the community can reconnect with nature, take exercise, or sit and reflect on the cycle of life.

The strategy includes:

  • (i) Planting a new semi-natural woodland of 7,000 native British trees
  • (ii) Creating five open burial glades with mown pathways, access points and rough cover where wildflowers can thrive;
  • (iii) Attracting a wider number of native species back into the area by creating habitats which provide nesting sites, cover for mammals and nectar and food sources for bees, butterflies, moths and insects
  • (iv) Linking our hedge maintenance, spring and autumn grass cutting and other tasks together to form an integrated management plan.

The foundation of our plan is based on creating a new semi-natural woodland of British trees. The Forestry Commission provided a grant for the bulk of this work and valuable advice on the density of planting and the best trees to use. The list below gives an indication of the common names of the main trees and shrubs planted.

Alder, Common
Crab Apple
Field Maple
Holly
Rowan
White Willow
Aspen
Dogwood, Common

Guelder Rose
Hornbeam
Silver Birch
Wild Cherry
Bird Cherry
Dog Rose
Hawthorn
Holm Oak

Spindle
Yew
Blackthorn
English Oak
Hazel
Lime, Small-leaved
Sweet Chestnut

During the tree planting five large woodland glades were formed in which the burials take place. These glades will be progressively planted with native wildflowers based on a survey of the grasses and wildflowers already flourishing in our neighbouring woodland. The list below gives a sample list of the common names of the wildflowers from which we will make our selection.

Bluebell (native)
Clover
Foxglove
Meadow Buttercup
Primrose
Rosebay Willowherb
Birdsfoot Trefoil
Daffodil

Green Alkanet
Orange Hawkweed
Ragged Robin
Sorrell
Cowslip
Fleabane
Herb Robert
Orchid

Red campion
Snowdrop
Celandine
Fritillary
Honeysuckle
Ox eye daisy
White Campion
Yellow Rattle

The different parts of the strategy are linked together through a careful maintenance plan aimed at increasing the diversity and intensity of the park’s wildlife.

Our aim is that the above strategy will contribute to the overall environmental health of the area by linking up the existing habitats on the North Lowestoft boundary. From East to West it completes a wildlife corridor that crosses the Denes, the Warren, public playing fields, and disused railway line, Gunton Woodland Burial Park, Gunton Wood, Gunton Meadow Nature Reserve, Foxburrow Wood and Corton Wood. This corridor gives wildlife the freedom to move freely to find food and shelter, thus strengthening the biodiversity of the area.