Death is the final taboo. But for the local people helping to make funerals both more personal and more planet-friendly, it’s time to talk about the big issues
Death is the final taboo. But for the local people helping to make funerals both more personal and more planet-friendly, it’s time to talk about the big issues
THE FLORIST
Specialising in sustainable floral designs - made using seasonal British-grown blooms wherever possible and no foam or single-use plastics - Jo Thorndike of V V Raven, Saffron Walden, is a member of The Farewell Flowers Directory, working to promote planet-friendly funeral tributes
What I do: “Following a personal consultation,we design and create, in conjunction with family, bespoke floral tributes that reflect your loved one’s life and loves. We work together with local flower growers (subject to availability) and can use plants, bulbs, foliage and cut flowers that can be kept and shared with the funeral party afterward or planted in your garden. Sometimes we add personal items that are important to their memory too. We also work with a local basket weaver who grows willow in her own garden and can create a natural container for the arrangements.”
Why I do it: “Just as every person is unique, so should their farewell tributes be. By working together with loved ones, we believe this can help towards processing some grief and to feel that you are offering a final, beautiful gesture. As we work with the seasons, the materials used are always evolving and changing as the year progresses. This makes all the arrangements subtly different and not harmful to the earth or the environment.”
Tackling the taboo: “Death can be a very difficult conversation, but lots of people are now starting to create their own funeral wishes document. This really helps at a time when decisions can be overwhelming.”
Visit: communityofcreatives/v-v-raven and farewellflowers.co.uk
Call: 07977 212907
Email: joanna@vvraven.co.uk
Follow: Instagram: @vvravenstyle and Facebook: @vvraven
THE GROWER
Dr Zoe Rutterford, who has a PhD in plant flowering from the University of Cambridge, is one of the female-led team behind Chickney Hall Flowers, the award-winning flower and foliage farm in Thaxted. Supplying everything from wholesale stems to gift bouquets, occasion arrangements and event buckets, they grow sustainably with the seasons
What I do: “I consult directly with bereaved customers who are making funeral arrangements, and with florists, such as Jo from VV Raven, who are commissioned to make farewell flower tributes. I provide gentle guidance on what species and colours are in season at the farm, and what compostable designs might be suitable. We cater to a range of budgets; designs vary in scale from dainty casket posies to full length coffin sprays. These initial personal conversations are vital for capturing the essence of a deceased person, and make it possible for me to cut for or design a unique arrangement that reflects what is important.”
Why I do it: “We now all face the massive, destructive effects of climate change and pollution. Making greener choices for a funeral is a statement of loyalty to all species of the natural world, and encourages others to consider how they could make a difference. The British floristry industry has a responsibility to supply products and services with lower carbon footprints. I offer customers transparency on where their flowers are from, in hand with farming and floristry practices which help protect biodiversity and limit climate change.”
Tackling the taboo: “It can be unnerving and humbling to discuss the transition from life to death. I think it is natural to feel reluctant about starting that conversation. When the topic of death is approached sensitively, though, it can give a sense of clarity and peace to both the person facing death and their loved ones.”
Visit: flowersfromthefarm.co.uk/members/chickney-hall-flowers
Call: 01279 909606
Email: flowers@chickneyhallflowers.co.uk
Follow: @chickneyhallflowers
THE WILLOW WEAVER
Living and working on a two-acre plot in “a wild-edged corner of Cambridgeshire”, where she grows and reaps her own willow, Debbie Hall of SalixArts is a basketmaker and artist. She makes eco-friendly vessels for everything from floral tributes to ashes
What I do: “I make bespoke baskets and sculpture from the beautiful colourful willow that I grow myself at home. It’s grown naturally without any chemicals, and all my baskets are biodegradable. Willow also supports an incredible biodiversity of insects and birds. Recently I’ve been working with Jo of VV Raven to create baskets for her bespoke floral tributes. Making to order means I can weave in intentions and messages for loved ones. I can also incorporate personal or meaningful items and include favourite colours - and, of course, the baskets can be kept and taken home, providing a lasting tribute. I can also make bespoke containers for ashes, again, providing an environmentally friendly, more personal, natural alternative to ready-made containers.”
Why I do it: “It is such an honour to be able to use your creative skills to make a difference to people’s lives - even a tiny difference - at such a difficult time. This kind of making seems invested with a real purpose – there’s a gift in it for both recipient and maker. I also think it’s such a great thing to be able to honour a life in ways that minimise environmental impact, and indeed might offer additional benefit to the world, be it extra willow pollen for the bees or supporting the local economy.”
Tackling the taboo: “Although initially it can be very difficult – our culture is not one that goes there easily – once the process is started, being able to talk openly about death can be incredibly cathartic. If something has been sensitively planned, how amazing and comforting it is to know that you’re respecting a loved one’s wishes after death.”
Visit: salixarts.co.uk
Call: 07736 952730
Email: debs@salixarts.co.uk
Follow: Instagram: @salixarts_debbiehall and Facebook: @SalixArts
THE FUNERAL DIRECTOR
Tracy O'Leary Murfitt is the founder of Woodland Wishes Funeral Services of Fulbourn. Offering bespoke and traditional cremation, church and green-burial funerals, they “promote natural, sustainable products and services, always with the family and the planet in mind”
What I do: “Woodland Wishes is a family-run, independent funeral directors well known for providing a more personal service and offering beautiful funeral choices. We are proud to use electric hearses, a bicycle hearse, locally sourced willow coffins and printed cardboard coffins, flowers that are seasonal and native as well as recycled paper for printed stationery. We can all make small changes that will help impact what we leave behind when we live and die. By considering greener funeral options we can help offset our final footprints.”
Why I do it: “We specialise in natural burials and beautiful bespoke goodbyes. Our reward is the satisfaction we gain from empowering a family with knowledge. That can include advice on making that final goodbye as personalised as possible, such as decorating or carrying a coffin. Funeral directors don’t know best, families do. A good funeral director will support a family to have the funeral that's right for them as well as being mindful of all local services and products close to you, rather than those products brought in from the other side of the world.”
Tackling the taboo: “To increase awareness of death is to help people make the most of their - finite - lives. Let’s talk more. We are here for coffee, cake and lighthearted conversation about death and dying. Please contact us if you would like to come to one of our conversation events here in Cambridge.”
Visit: woodlandwishes.co.uk
Call: 01223 880002 (24 hours)
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