A key goal at Alne Wood Park is to provide a nature friendly burial choice that balances having a site suitable for funerals while also maintaining the best habitat for wildlife and plants to flourish.

We work closely with the biodiversity team at the Heart of England Forest to create our site management plan, this is designed to develop an environment that encourages wildlife while also offering access to visitors. 

The main part of the burial ground is being managed to develop a thriving wildflower meadow. This is an active process that requires careful mowing typically only once per year. Cuttings are moved to the edges of the site to reduce nutrients, this in turn further encourages wildflower growth and grass diversity. The area around the grave sites have their grass mown more regularly to provide access, although this is still done with a light touch and not cut too low, this allows shorter species to still thrive.  

To ensure nothing detrimental to biodiversity is accidentally introduced to the site, planting of flowers, grass, or trees is not permitted on or around graves (or anywhere else onsite). However we do have a wildflower/grass seed mix that matches those species found at Alne Wood Park that is provided for planting on settled grave sites. 

Thistles and course grass are being managed by selective removal although these still form part of the biodiversity for the site and are key to some species, so the desire is not to eradicate them but to manage their balance.

We do not allow or use any pesticides, fertiliser, or chemicals on the site.

In addition to the wildflowers there are a selection of native broadleaf trees on the site and a more densely planted orchard in the border areas of the site which are not used for burial.

These trees on the burial ground, the semi-ancient forest, and newly planted woodland that surrounds the site are all actively managed by the dedicated forestry team. This involves monitoring growth progress for newer trees, ensuring safety around damaged or dead trees, and planting replacements where appropriate.