Frustrated by the lack of good quality natural burial grounds in the UK, we founded Back to Nature Burials first to establish and operate our own site, and then to replicate our expertise and good practice nationwide. We do this by forming partnerships with landowners seeking to unlock new income streams while conserving their land for the future.
Across the UK, traditional cemeteries and churchyards are running low on space, at a time when people are also seeking to limit their impact on the environment and looking for more meaningful and less polluting alternatives to often one-size-fits-all cremations. These factors have brought about a sharp rise in demand for natural burials and surveys indicate that around 10% of the UK population would choose a natural burial today if they could, and this number is likely to grow as environmentally-aware younger generations age. As the provision for this type of burial ground is still fairly limited across the country, with only 300 existing sites, not all meeting the highest standards, there is a real need for more well-run sites to meet a growing demand.
Our vision is for every part of the country to have access to a gold-standard natural burial ground— giving people a genuine choice of a more peaceful funeral experience, and a beautiful, natural place to return to and remember their loved ones.
Because natural burial grounds can be established on land that may not be suitable for farming or conventional cemeteries, we specialise in guiding landowners through a low-risk process to create a bespoke site that works for them, and their families.
This approach provides a credible and sustainable alternative to traditional burial and cremation, while delivering long-term income for landowners, protecting valuable rural landscapes, and enhancing biodiversity and wildlife across the UK.
From wildflower meadows and ancient woodland to unused pasture, transforming your land into a place of rest offers both practical benefits and the chance to leave a deeply positive legacy.
Jo is the owner and director of Albany Funerals Ltd, widely recognised as one of the UK’s leading funeral providers by the Good Funeral Awards for its pioneering approach. Driven by a commitment to giving people greater choice — financially, emotionally, and aesthetically — in a sector long dominated by traditional cremations and church burials, Jo has consistently challenged convention. This people-first ethos led her to natural burial, an area that until recently offered limited options in the UK. She believes this growing sector not only supports families through grief, but also plays an important role in protecting our landscape for generations to come. Jo is our Operations Director.
Hannah qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2012 and since grew her Kent based accountancy practice, Glengracie Accounting Solutions Ltd to great success. She has been working with Jo for more than ten years, all the while developing skills bespoke to this niche industry. Her friendship with Jo bolstered their vision for creating a new way of doing things- an accessible and beautiful place which can facilitate eco-friendly, natural burials for the whole community and beyond. Hannah is our Financial Director.
As the owner of Ellipsis Land & Planning Ltd, Stephanie brings extensive experience and a strong reputation for excellence in navigating the planning process. Her deep technical knowledge and clear strategic approach ensure projects move smoothly from concept to consent whilst supporting a sustainable and well-considered development. Combining this skillset with Hannah's business advisory and project management expertise provides the perfect partnership to work with Jo's deep knowledge and intuition for the sector. Stephanie is our Planning Director.
If you think your land could be suitable for a natural burial ground, we offer an initial consultation to assess its potential with minimal upfront cost. From your first conversation with us through to delivery, we support you at every stage—helping you protect your rural land for the long term while creating a sustainable, low-overhead income stream.
We will work closely with you to identify suitable land and agree a clear plan for the site’s development and operation which is bespoke for each site.
We manage this phase at no cost to the landowners, except for necessary disbursements. We will navigate through all the regulatory requirements, environmental considerations, and logistical challenges through to the approval stage.
As these are natural spaces, the preparation of the site for opening is fairly minimal and we will assist you to implement any needed infrastructure.
We work flexibly with you, so you can choose the level of day-to-day involvement that suits you once the burial ground is in operation.
If you’d like to learn more about what we do or explore a potential collaboration, please contact us at info@backtonatureburials.co.uk