30 Jun What Can I Do with My Loved One’s Ashes?
We get asked the question ‘What Can I Do with My Loved One’s Ashes?‘ a lot, and so below we have explained the many, and varied, options available to you.
Your loved one’s ashes tend to arrive with us in a small cardboard box from the crematorium following a cremation service or a Direct Cremation. Whether you prefer to keep your loved one’s ashes at home or to scatter them in a meaningful place, we are here to help.
Scatter Tube(s)
We offer a wide selection of beautifully designed scatter tubes.
An extra-large scatter tube can hold a full set of ashes, and you can choose a design that resonates with you.
During your appointment, we will transfer the ashes into a scatter tube of your choosing.
We also provide various sizes of scatter tubes if you wish to divide the ashes for scattering at different locations or sharing with family members.
If you have a specific design in mind, such as one related to a football team or favourite flower, please let us know.
With our bespoke funerals, we include an extra-large scatter tube. If you need additional scatter tubes, here are the prices:
- Extra-large = £30.00
- Large = £25.00
- Small = £20.00
- Extra-small = £10.00
You can find out more here.
Urns
Urns come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, styles, and materials, including traditional smooth designs, eco-friendly biodegradable water urns, contemporary sculptures, and unique decorative options.
More details are available on our website here.
Burial of Ashes (Interment)
Burying your loved one’s ashes is a popular alternative to scattering them. This service is separate from the funeral or cremation service and can be scheduled at your convenience (subject to availability).
Further information about ashes interments can be found on our website here.
Memorial Jewellery and Keepsakes
Creating a beautiful piece of jewellery or a cherished keepsake that contains a small portion of your loved one’s ashes is a heartfelt way to keep them close.
More information about memorial jewellery is available on our website here.
Cremation Diamonds
You have the option to transform the carbon from your loved one’s ashes into a certified diamond gemstone. Once created, the diamond can be set in various precious metal keepsakes or jewellery.
Memorial Vinyl
If your loved one had a passion for music or a favourite band, a small portion of their ashes can be pressed into a working vinyl record featuring a custom audio track or their favourite songs.
Memorial Stone
Ashes can also be incorporated into a smooth, stone-like material through a cold-casting process. A small amount of ash is worked evenly through, creating tactile pebbles, hearts or other keepsakes that families can hold, keep close or share between them. No two are ever the same, because the ashes themselves shape each one.
You can read more here.
Memorial Tattoo
This unique option allows your tattoo artist to blend some of your loved one’s ashes with the ink to create a lasting memorial tattoo.
Memorial Teddy Bear
For children, keeping some ashes (or other keepsakes) in a cuddly toy can bring great comfort.
Options for Scattering Ashes
There are specific laws and regulations regarding the scattering of ashes, but generally, you may scatter ashes anywhere in the UK with the landowner’s permission.
Church Yard, Cemetery or Crematorium
Many Churches, Cemeteries, and Crematoriums have designated areas – such as the Garden of Remembrance – for scattering and strewing ashes.
You can find out more about Interments (Burial of Ashes) here.
Natural / Woodland Burial Site and Memorial Park
Inter the ashes in a protected woodland burial site where nature can thrive. Locally, you can consider Adlington Memorial Park, Werneth Memorial Park in Romiley and Birches Memorial Park in Northwich.
You can find out more here.
Private Land
Always obtain permission from the landowner before scattering ashes on private property.
Sports Ground (i.e. your favourite football team)
The rules for scattering ashes at sports venues vary across the UK. Some clubs now offer memorial areas for this purpose. If interested, it’s best to contact the club directly.
Over Water
Scattering ashes in water is a common choice. Some families charter boats to scatter ashes at sea or in a river. Alternatively, there are water-soluble urns designed to dissolve and gently sink, biodegrading over time.
National Trust Site
The National Trust manages many historic sites across the UK, which can provide a beautiful and personal place to scatter your loved one’s ashes. While they do not have a formal policy, many families have received permission to scatter ashes in the past. If you wish to do so, obtain written permission from the property manager and ensure no environmental damage occurs.
Abroad
If your loved one enjoyed traveling, consider taking a portion of their ashes on trips to scatter in places they cherished or always dreamed of visiting. We can provide a Customs and Excise letter to help you take the ashes overseas, but it’s advisable to contact your airline beforehand.
In Your Own Garden / Land
Burying ashes in your own garden is a lovely way to keep your loved one close. As long as you own the property, this is legal in the UK. However, consider that if you sell your home, the new owners may not allow you to visit the burial site.
Significant Location
Consider scattering ashes in a location that holds special memories, such as a favourite walking path or a beautiful spot they loved.
Viking Longboat
A Viking Longboat uses a handcrafted, biodegradable wooden longship to carry and release cremated remains on calm water. Placed securely in the hull, the ashes are taken out to a lake or the sea, set adrift, and optionally set ablaze so the boat sails off into the distance before gracefully sinking.
Memorial Firework
You can incorporate some of your loved one’s ashes into a firework and let them light up the night sky!
You can read more about this option here.
Drone
This innovative option allows ashes to be released from a drone, forming a soft, cloud-like plume that gently disperses into the air.
You can read more here.
Dove or Butterfly Release
Releasing doves or butterflies while scattering your loved one’s ashes can add a special touch to this final farewell.
Ashes Register
The Ashes Register is a free, central digital database (with an interactive map showing the ashes locations) in the UK that allows families to permanently record where a loved one’s cremated remains have been scattered, buried, interred, or kept. Now, with over 80% of funerals in the UK being cremations, many final resting places lack a physical monument. This registry offers a lasting digital marker, to ensure future generations can know where their relatives are.
