The grave issue of a natural burial ground

A FEAKLE woman aiming to develop a natural burial ground in County Clare is seeking interest from those who would like such a burial ground available to them.

Gill Moses is spearheading this initiative and has had a meeting with Clare County Council to discuss the possibility of providing such an amenity, where it acknowledge the need for alternative provision for burial at a local level, subject to compliance with planning and environmental criteria.
Ms Moses said her own interest in pursuing the development of a natural burial ground in her locality is both individually and community driven. 
“I have lived here for nearly 11 years and have been aware for some time that I have no provision for my own burial, for the burial of my family and for many people in the community. I think the need will arise in some years to come and the challenge is to start developing the provision ahead of time.
I have been involved in groups with an interest in natural burial for the last five years and have been most encouraged by the opening, earlier this year, of Ireland’s first natural burial ground in Wexford. I know from Colin McAteer, the co-founder of the site, that he has several enquiries from County Clare, as well as the rest of Ireland and far beyond,” Ms Moses explained. 
She added that while she does not doubt there is an interest and a need for natural burial grounds in the country as a whole, her own preference is to develop a resource at a local level.
“I am confident there is scope for establishing more than one small-scale natural burial ground in this county. I believe that this model encourages ownership and responsibility of the site, which helps achieve sustainability,” she said. 
Describing exactly what a natural burial ground is, Ms Moses outlined, “In the first instance, a natural burial ground is an area of land where individuals choose to be buried because a traditional cemetery does not meet their needs in terms of belief and often design.
“The aim of a natural burial ground is to provide a burial space that works in harmony with its environment, encouraging biodiversity, protection of existing habitats and often the development of new habitats. Depending on the land type, size and location the burial ground can become over time a woodland, natural meadow or grazed pasture,” she continued.
According to Ms Moses, it is expected that individuals opting to be buried in a natural burial ground would choose a biodegradable casket.
“My own preference would be that the caskets be sourced from within this country, rather than imported from abroad. Good practice also promotes burial of the non-embalmed as the fluids used in embalming are considered toxic,” she said.
She explained that there are differing practices in terms of the use of markers for burial plots in the case of natural burial grounds.
“Some sites use local stone and allow small ground-level markers to be used. Other sites opt for a chestnut wood marker as this wood is durable, whilst not being treated. Other sites have no markers and use GPS for plot location,” she said.
The layout and density of the burial ground, to a certain extent, depends on the land type and generally plots are single, with multiple plots being side by side as opposed to stacked, as in traditional cemeteries, Ms Moses continued. 
“There are a variety of options in terms of burial plot lay-out. My preference is for sequential plots, rather than selection of plot by the individual, with the planting regime favouring the needs of the site as a whole, rather than being selected on a plot-by-plot basis. This allows the burial ground to develop as a place of remembrance and allows for better management of the planting as plants are not plot specific/owned,” she added. 
Ms Moses is now inviting people in Clare with an interest in the provision a natural burial ground in the county to make contact with her as well as anyone who may have land suitable for such a development. A suitable site should be in the region of two acres and be easily accessible by road, have minimal rocky deposits and be a considerable distance from a water source.
For more information, contact Gill Moses on 086 6068908 or email gravesmatter@gmail.com.