Burial on private land

Required paperwork

Registrar’s Certificate for Burial or Cremation

Known as the ‘Green Form’, this is either given to you at your appointment to register the death or sent to us directly following that appointment.

Coroners Order for Burial

This form will replace the Green Form if the Coroner is involved. This form is usually sent directly to us.

You must have the freeholder’s permission to bury if you do not own the land and the land needs to be free of any covenants prohibiting burial.

The burial will have to comply with the Environment Agency guidelines:

  • At least 10 metres from any ‘dry’ ditch or field drain

  • At least 30 metres from any spring or any running or standing water

  • At least 50 metres from any well, borehole or spring that supplies water for any use

The owner of the land needs to keep a burial register.

The registrar will need the ‘Green Form’ issued on registration(or Coroners Order for Burial) to be sent to them within 4 days of the burial.

There is no legal requirement for grave depth although it is recommended that there is 24in of soil above the coffin. A shallow grave allows for aerobic microbial activity thus enabling the natural composting process.

The pictures show a new grave on private land and 18 months later how it is going back to nature with a fruit tree and herbs.