Our Venue
Epping Forest Burial Park offers plots for burial and for interment of ashes. Ashes may also be scattered within the woodland if this is preferred. Plots may be purchased in advance, as part of funeral planning, or by the bereaved at the time of need.
We welcome people of all beliefs and denominations, as well as those with no faith, and we host dignified and respectful services, both religious and secular. We will be happy to explain all the options available to you and prices will be in the literature that we send out. We aim always to accommodate the wishes of the deceased, their families and friends.
At Epping Forest Burial Park, your purchase is inclusive of:
- Secure lease until 2104.
- Significant contribution to the Trust for development and maintenance of woodland.
- Use of Park facilities such as buggies for those with limited mobility.
- A securely fenced site.
- Use of Park for families to visit.
- No extra charge for non-residents.
- No extra charge for placing a memorial, other than the cost of the memorial itself.
- The support of trained staff, committed to a compassionate, caring and personalised service.
Your price is fixed - whether paid in an at-need or pre-need situation, no further charges will be incurred at Epping Forest Burial Park except for grave preparation, memorials and other services such as the use of our buildings where this is not already included.
Buildings
The Woodland Hall and Gathering Hall and the intervening courtyard constitute the ceremonial buildings of the burial park.
Built of modular timber construction, the buildings are designed to complement the environment and natural woodland setting. The buildings are constructed using renewable timbers from managed woodlands, reflecting the ethos of environmentally friendly woodland burial in a mature woodland site.
Building designer Graham Brown's original thought guiding the design process of the buildings was "what the inner journey that we humans make as we honour and release the body of a loved one to the grave".
To Graham, it became clear that as we made that journey there were moments where we would naturally pause, reflect, take stock and prepare for the next steps and that the buildings needed to be stopping off places for those moments on that journey to the grave. Places where people would have time to adjust from the normal state of everyday life to the heightened emotional and spiritual consciousness to which we are drawn by meeting the loss of someone we love.
The Gathering Hall
The Gathering Hall provides a warm and welcoming meeting place for friends and family before and after the funeral. Kitchen facilities and full WC facilities are available and the needs of the disabled are provided for.
The Gathering Hall is the perfect meeting point for the bereaved family and friends. Refreshments can be provided, and families have the option to use the building after the ceremony if they are providing catering.
Our superb sound system can be played throughout the Woodland Hall, Gathering Hall and across the courtyard.
The Woodland Hall
A circular courtyard hidden by a living hazel "wall" leads you to the Woodland Hall, which in turn provides the venue for the funeral service.
The rounded shape of the building together with the panoramic views of the woodland give a calm, intimate feeling, making it suitable for both small and large funerals. Up to 130 people can sit comfortably and enjoy high quality sound and voice reproduction. We have also included a loop for the hard of hearing.
Graham Brown's circular design of the buildings is based around a unique reciprocal frame with a spiral roof beam arrangement, creating a clear span structure of considerable elegance. Built of predominantly natural materials from sustainable sources, the buildings’ simple beauty offers a spiritually uplifting experience, highly appropriate for their purpose. They reflect our commitment to providing a place of natural beauty, the perfect environment for remembrance, meditation and quiet contemplation.