Northumberland Woodland Burials to open new £2.6m crematorium
Woodland Burials has also installed ‘the most advanced’ cremator and abatement system, and additionally added a NOx filter, which is said to significantly reduce the amount of harmful Nitrogen Oxides released during the cremation process
The family-owned Northumberland Woodland Burials, which is located one mile south of Felton at Bockenfield, is in the final stages of opening a £2.6m crematorium and chapel on its grounds.
It is reported that the facility will be opened in a ceremony by The Duchess of Northumberland on 21 October at three in the afternoon.
The news comes as the business identified a need in the area for a crematorium facility after traditionally only offering coffin burials. Northumberland Crematorium will reportedly be the second in the county and the only private crematorium in the region.
The entire building is said to include underfloor heating using an innovative heat exchanger, which captures the waste heat produced by the cremator, and therefore reducing its energy use.
According to Woodland Burials, services will be restricted to six per day to ensure that “mourners are not rushed”.
In addition, the business have also installed “the most advanced” cremator and abatement system on the market, and additionally added a NOx filter, which is said to significantly reduce the amount of harmful Nitrogen Oxides released from the types of coffin used during the cremation process.
It is reported that it is not compulsory to have a NOx filter in the UK, with only 5% of all cremation facilities in the UK having one installed. Woodland Burials are the first and only in its region.
Laura Clarehugh, co-owner of Northumberland Woodland Burials, said: “Our woodlands and wildflower meadows have been the final resting place for hundreds of people over the past 20 years and our site is recognised in the Northumberland County Council Neighbourhood plan as an asset to the parish.
“There is huge demand for a second crematorium facility in Northumberland and we have spent over four years developing our vision for our site. There is no catafalque or curtains, but instead a beautifully restored coffin bier which will be illuminated during the service, with the dimming of the lights marking the end of the service instead.”
She added: “We are grateful to have had the support of a Rural Payments Agency (RPA) grant and have been featured by the Country Landowners Association (CLA) for the development of our site and land diversification.”