There’s a reason families in Tunbridge Wells and nearby villages come to Welham Jones when they want a natural, dignified farewell. Our roots grow deep in local soil. Many of our team have lived and worked in the area for decades, walking the same woodland pathways, serving at local churches, and supporting neighbours through times of loss. We know how important it is to offer a choice that aligns with personal values and the environment.
Last spring, a family from the Southborough area asked for a service without chemicals, waste, or plastic. We arranged their loved one’s burial in a certified natural woodland site and helped them plant a native hazel tree, as we’ve done for families across Rusthall, Langton Green, and beyond, year after year. The peaceful setting, living memorial, and gentle process brought comfort and pride in choosing a respectful, sustainable option.
A green funeral, sometimes called an eco-funeral or natural burial, uses environmentally sensitive practices.
Our staff are fully trained to handle all arrangements with dignity, whether you wish for a simple graveside gathering or a woodland ceremony with family, friends, and celebrant. [1]
Our green funeral services always begin with listening. We meet you in person at our Crescent Road funeral home or, if you prefer, in your own home to discuss wishes, faith, and cultural practices.
Each green funeral is tailored to the person whose life it honours, whether that means a favourite reading at the graveside or planting local wildflowers over the plot.
Welham Jones offers a selection of biodegradable coffins and shrouds.
Our funeral directors explain the characteristics and sustainability of each, helping families make an informed choice that matches personal values and budget.
Click here to learn more about our eco-friendly coffins.
We work in partnership with several woodland and meadow burial grounds near Tunbridge Wells.
We arrange and attend planting ceremonies each spring, supporting families who wish to remember loved ones through nature, not marble.
Choosing a natural burial ground is an important step, and many local families appreciate knowing the options available within easy reach of Tunbridge Wells. Welham Jones works closely with respected woodland and meadow sites across Kent, allowing families to select a peaceful, meaningful resting place.
Located near Chislehurst, GreenAcres Kemnal Park offers a serene woodland environment designed specifically for natural burials. With its blend of mature trees, meadows, and accessible walking paths, Kemnal Park provides a tranquil setting just under an hour’s drive from Tunbridge Wells. Some families prefer this site for its combination of established woodland areas, memorial tree planting, and modern on-site facilities. [2] [3]
Set on the Isle of Sheppey, this burial ground is designed as a living, protected landscape. It offers gentle rolling countryside, seasonal wildflowers, and commitment to sustainable practice. Families choosing Sheppey Natural Burial Ground are often drawn to its peaceful location and the opportunity for continual wildlife support. [4] [5]
Eden Valley, situated on the Kent and Surrey border near Edenbridge, is managed as a working woodland restoration project. The site covers more than 20 acres, including ancient bluebell woods, meadows, and ponds teeming with local wildlife. Plots are available for immediate need or pre-purchase. Families here often plant native trees such as oak or hazel, contributing directly to habitat restoration and the reforesting of former pastureland. Eden Valley welcomes people of all faiths and backgrounds, and boasts a relaxed, unhurried atmosphere for graveside ceremonies. [6] [7]
Positioned close to Harty, near the Swale estuary, this natural ground is known for its open vistas, grazing animals, and birdlife. The team behind Harty Natural Burial Ground focus on low-impact, traditional burials and the land is maintained for conservation and livestock. Local families find it a genuinely rural option with a real commitment to preserving Kent’s green landscape. [8] [9]
Kent Natural Burials operate several sites, with an emphasis on protecting and enhancing the local Kent landscape. Their natural burial grounds offer a range of environments, from peaceful meadows to newly planted woodlands, catering to a variety of wishes and traditions. Each site only accepts burials using biodegradable materials, in keeping with natural burial guidelines. [10] [11]
Riverview, near Lower Halstow, boasts elevated views over the Swale estuary and Thames. This newer burial ground is divided into “rooms,” distinct areas separated by established trees and hedgerows. Families often remark on the far-reaching rural scenery, the sense of privacy, and the opportunity to plant memorial trees or wildflowers. Three options allow for tailored ceremonies, and the setting is especially valued by those looking for tranquillity and nature. [12] [13]
Discover compassionate support through our graveside service offerings.
The impact of green burial goes further than personal choice.
Welham Jones has advocated for and supported green initiatives by partnering with local landowners and volunteering with wildlife groups, helping protect Kent’s countryside for future generations. [14] [15] [16]
Last autumn, we helped a family from Southborough arrange a green funeral for their mother. She’d been a keen gardener who composted everything and refused plastic bags at the supermarket. A traditional funeral with chemical preservation and a metal casket felt wrong. When we explained how green burial works, their eldest daughter smiled for the first time in days. “This is exactly what Mum would want,” she said.
Green funerals save natural resources that traditional burials consume. In the UK, conventional burials use thousands of tons of wood, steel, and concrete every year for caskets and burial vaults. Green funerals avoid all of this. They eliminate formaldehyde, a known carcinogen that contaminates groundwater when embalmed bodies break down. The chemicals from traditional embalming can persist in soil for years, harming plants and aquatic life in nearby waterways.
We provide clear guidance on funeral arrangements that respect diverse traditions and beliefs.
Green funerals can cost less than traditional services thanks to simpler requirements and eco-sensitive materials.
Our price lists are published and available for viewing or print any time, in line with our commitment to clarity and honesty. [17]
Welham Jones supports families of all backgrounds.
Our directors ensure that green burial can be part of almost any tradition, and we will never suggest a service that doesn’t reflect your beliefs.
Discover how our direct cremation services can honour your loved one simply and respectfully.
Welham Jones has served the people of Tunbridge Wells and surrounding Kent villages since 2015.
Our traditional funeral services provide a meaningful farewell with personalised care., and our doors are open, our staff are here, and our care continues after the service ends.
Where to find us: 39 Crescent Rd, Royal Tunbridge Wells TN1 2LZ
Planning a funeral is never easy. For those considering green options:
Welham Jones helps you choose what’s right, for your loved one, your family, and the environment.
Reach out to our dedicated funeral director team for personalised assistance during this difficult time.
A green funeral is a burial or memorial service that uses biodegradable materials, avoids embalming and concrete vaults, and takes place in a certified natural ground, helping protect wildlife and restore natural landscapes. The focus is on returning your loved one gently to the earth, with minimal environmental impact and respectful simplicity.
Yes. All green funerals arranged by Welham Jones comply with national and local regulations. Kent and surrounding boroughs support natural burial sites and maintain clear processes for legal burial registration, interment, and memorialisation.
Natural burials can be held at dedicated woodland and meadow sites, including:
We help families choose from biodegradable coffins made of willow, bamboo, wool, seagrass, or cardboards. Shroud interment is also an option at approved sites. All materials are selected for sustainability and compliance with woodland burial rules.
No. Green funerals avoid chemical embalming to preserve local soil and water health. Our team cares for your loved one naturally, using respectful washing and dressing protocols developed by experienced staff.
Yes. Many faith traditions, including Christian, secular, and some non-Christian practices, can be honoured through a green funeral format. Welham Jones’s directors work with local clergy, celebrants, and family leaders to ensure all beliefs and customs are respected in the most eco-friendly way possible.
Green funerals are often lower-cost, as simple, biodegradable coffins and woodland plots reduce expense. Costs can vary depending on the chosen burial ground, ceremony details, and additional services, but price lists are always provided up front for full transparency.
Most natural grounds offer the choice of planting a memorial tree or wildflowers on the grave, with simple wooden plaques permitted in some cases. The emphasis is on leaving a living, positive legacy for the environment.
Yes. At natural burial sites, loved ones can help plant trees, scatter wildflower seeds, or participate in the interment as much or as little as feels right. Our staff are present to guide and support every step.
Contact Welham Jones by phone, email, or in person at our Crescent Road office. Our family-run team listens carefully to your wishes and explains every choice, there’s no obligation and planning meetings can be scheduled at your convenience.
[1] “What is an eco funeral?” by Pilgrims Hopsice, https://www.pilgrimshospices.org/news/eco-funerals/
[2] GreenAcres Kemnal Park, via GreenAcres Group website, https://www.greenacresgroup.co.uk/parks/kemnal-park/
[3] GreenAcres Kemnal Park, Sidcup By-Pass, Chislehurst BR7 6RR, https://maps.app.goo.gl/9PXknSJCHK8krf7J7
[4] Sheppey Natural Burial Ground, https://www.sheppeyburialground.co.uk/
[5] Sheppey Natural Burial Ground, Leysdown-on-Sea, Sheerness ME12 4BG, https://maps.app.goo.gl/evZ9cntzsZgYSKY78
[6] Eden Valley Woodland Burial Ground, https://www.edenvalleyburials.org.uk/
[7] Eden Valley Woodland Burial Ground, Crouch House Rd, Edenbridge TN8 5LG, https://maps.app.goo.gl/sKaZ8zF7oK7LCcNu6
[8] Harty Natural Burial Ground, https://natural-burial-grounds.co.uk/burial-ground/harty-natural-burial-ground/
[9] Harty Natural Burial Ground, 19 Queenborough Rd, Minster on Sea, Sheerness ME12 3BY, https://maps.app.goo.gl/wvmzV5ahVk4iSbvB8
[10] Kent Natural Burials, https://kentnaturalburials.com/
[11] Kent Natural Burials, Deerton St, Teynham, Sittingbourne ME9 9LL, https://maps.app.goo.gl/4Ym7Vm5KYoo6wHnq5
[12] Riverview, https://kentnaturalburials.com/locations/riverview
[13] Riverview, Wardwell Ln, Sittingbourne ME9 7BP, https://maps.app.goo.gl/dcdnCuvqSDMb2BVJ8
[14] “The Environmental Impact Of Funeral Choices”, by Earth Funeral, June 18, 20125, https://earthfuneral.com/reports/the-environmental-impact-of-funeral-choices
[15] “The contribution of natural burials to soil ecosystem services: Review and emergent research questions” via Science Direct, Febraury 2024, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0929139323003980
[16] “Beyond the Corporatization of Death Systems: Towards Green Death Practices” via the National Library of Medicine, 7 April 2021, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9403370/
[17] “How much could an eco-funeral cost in the UK?” via Ecoffins, https://www.ecoffins.co.uk/blogs/news/how-much-could-an-eco-funeral-cost-in-the-uk
Address:
39 Crescent Rd
Royal Tunbridge Wells
TN1 2LZ
Phone: 01892 300330
Email: tunbridgewells@welhamjones.co.uk
Business Hours:
Monday to Friday: 9am to 5pm
Saturday and Sunday: appointment only
For community deaths outside those hours, we also provide a 24/7 response, 365 days of the year.
