Exhibition breaks down boundaries about death

More than 650 people braved the rain to attend this year’s London Funeral Exhibition at Chiltern Woodland Burial Park on 7 and 8 July.

Products and services from an array of funeral providers and suppliers were on display within the 72-acre woodland setting, while industry experts were on hand to speak to visitors throughout the event.

Planning ahead seemed to be a recurring theme at the exhibition, with visitors being afforded the opportunity to start thinking about plans for when a loved one dies and add to the ‘Things to do before I die’ board – a project by urban artist Candy Chang that seeks to encourage people to talk more about what they want to achieve during their lifetime.

Chiltern Woodland Burial Park was also presented with three unique cardboard coffins, from Greenfield Creations, which will be displayed at the park.

Amongst the items on display at the exhibition were eco and wicker coffins; bespoke picture coffins; handmade urns and memorial posts.

There were plenty of family-based activities at the event including horse and carriage rides; a bear hunt in the woods; a puppet show; and storytelling workshops. A raffle, treasure hunt and sales of cakes, made by local families, resulted in £230 being raised for the Acts of Hope charity, which aims to bring education and basic healthcare to children from impoverished homes in the slums of India.

GreenAcres Woodland Burials’ (which Chiltern Woodland Burial Park is a part of) parent company the Bibby Line Group agreed to match the amount raised over the weekend, which made the grand total £460.

Group marketing and sales manager of GreenAcres Woodland Burials, Nicky Whichelow, said: “The London Funeral Exhibition is a very important event as it allows people to see the wide range of choices that are available when planning a funeral for a loved one.”