A Green or natural Burial is an eco-friendly burial where the body is buried on land that is managed so that it is attractive to wildlife and sustainable flora.
At woodland burial grounds relatives may be able to plant a tree to mark the site either on or near the grave. At nature reserve burial grounds, which can be wild flower meadows or pastures, graves are either unmarked or may be marked by a small wooden plaque.
 | | Burial ground |
Unlike a conventional graveyard the wooden name plaques and softwood or cardboard coffins will return to the soil as nature intended. The idea behind this is that as time passes, the site will be transformed into woodland and the creation of a self-supporting eco-system. Essex already has several green burial sites across the county. Oakfield Wood, a nature reserve and woodland of remembrance, which opened in 1996, is one of the first nature reserve burial grounds in Britain and the first in Essex. Overlooking the Stour estuary at Wrabness, the seven acre site is owned by the Essex Wildlife Trust. The Woodland and Wildlife Conservation Company Limited run the Herongate Wood site in Billericay Road, Brentwood. The family company can make all the arrangements for a caring, dignified funeral, incorporating any decisions or arrangements you choose. Any type of religious or non-religious ceremony can be accommodated using their Hall of Remembrance.
 | | Pond at Herongate Wood |
Maldon District Council run the Woodland Glade Burial Ground which borders farmland within the walled boundary of an existing mature cemetery. On a 'Day of Dedication' held each autumn the bereaved are invited to plant trees and bulbs, and to join the Friends of Woodland Glade who help each other through bereavement and give practical assistance in enhancing woodland. Harlow's woodland burial ground started to take shape in 2000 in Parndon Wood. The site is run by Harlow Council and aims to plant trees across the whole site to create a natural woodland area. | 
