Funeral Directors

We are Funeral Directors and many families come to us, at Woodland and Wildlife (WWCC) and allow us to arrange the entire funeral and burial or cremation of a loved one. We offer exactly the same service and support as traditional funeral directors with the added option of a simpler, more personal ceremony, if that is required. We have our own Chapel of Rest at Herongate Wood. Once we have collected your loved one, they never leave our care. Where undertakers are selected by families, we will work seamlessly with them to assist with laying loved ones to rest.

Those families who choose WWCC are free to arrange the ceremony that is best suited to their own requirements of an appropriate funeral. We are able to offer all the help or advice required and have arranged a wide range of ceremonies, all designed by the families as a tribute to their loved ones.

There are many permutations of funeral. It is our view that every family's requirements are personal and individual and it is our responsibility to provide whatever they need. Some things to consider are as follows:

a) Burial
Where burial is chosen, it is usual for an appropriate service to be held at our Hall of Remembrance, followed by the loved one being laid to rest where the trees and bluebells will cover them in years to come. When the weather is good, many families opt for a service round the delightful pond or on our paved terrace. As we make clear, we are guided by whatever suits the individual family and can also arrange for the service to be held in their local place of Worship. In every case, the adjacent plot/s are available to be reserved for the partner or other family members, if we are notified at the time of booking the funeral..

b) Cremation
Where cremation is chosen, the service may be held at the Crematorium or in the Hall of Remembrance on exactly the same basis as for a burial. At the end of the service, the loved one is taken in our hearse to the local crematorium. It is not usual for the family to accompany the coffin. The ashes can later be buried in a single or family plot at Herongate Wood, Green Burial Ground, which will be fully recorded in the Burial Register.

Where it has been inconvenient for family members to meet for two separate services ie Cremation and subsequent burial of ashes, we have combined these into one by having the cremation arranged first, without the family present. The full funeral service then takes place over the ashes, a couple of weeks or so after the loss of the loved one. At the conclusion of this service, the ashes are normally interred at Herongate Wood or may be returned to the family for interring or scattering elsewhere.

c) Type of Service
eg Religious or non- religious. We can arrange for the Officiant of your choice (including your local parish Priest, Minister, Humanist or even a family member) to take a service at Herongate Wood Hall of Remembrance or elsewhere.

d) Place where the service is to be held
eg at the Hall of Remembrance at Herongate Wood Green Burial Ground or a place of worship. As mentioned in (b) above, you may also choose a crematorium. During fine weather, many families choose to have an outside service by our delightful pond and the final decision on this can often be made on the day of the funeral.

e) Type and number of funeral cars
ie hearse and limousines. As the loved one is kept safe in our Chapel of Rest at Herongate Wood, there is no need to have a hearse or limousines. If the family wishes to have a hearse and/or limousines, these can be provided on request. The family and other mourners usually use their own cars to gather at Herongate Wood for the funeral. There are several major benefits of this informality, the most important being that the family remains in control of timing as they often arrive an hour before the service in order to spend time with each other and with the loved one, who has passed away. They may also spend as long as they require after the funeral at Herongate Wood.

f) Type of Coffin
We offer a wide range of alternatives including bamboo and wicker as well as the more traditional veneers and solid wood coffins including Oak and Pine.

One innovation, with which we are proud to be associated, is the cardboard coffin offered for use at cremations. The cardboard coffin is contained within a magnificent oak veneer casket. It is this casket that is seen by the family at the service and viewings etc but, at the crematorium, the cover is removed ‘behind the scenes' and returned for re-use. Only the cardboard coffin is cremated.