Natural Burial

A simple, natural way to honour a life.

Eco-Friendly Burial

We are proud to offer respectful funeral and memorial services that honour your loved one while taking care of the environment.

Fitting Farewell Tribute

A natural funeral provides a meaningful way to honour a loved one, allowing their body to return to the earth and nourish the surrounding environment, creating a lasting living memorial.

Economical

For some families, a meaningful farewell is less about an elaborate coffin or casket and more about honouring their loved one through their memories, wishes and the things that made their life special.

Whether you’re planning your own burial for the future or arranging a burial for a loved one, a natural burial may be an option worth considering.

At Hills Family Funerals, we can help you explore natural burial options across North West Sydney and surrounding communities. Our experienced team takes the time to understand your wishes and tailor the arrangements to create a meaningful farewell that reflects what matters most to you and your family.
To learn more about natural burial or discuss your options with our team, please give us a call or enquire online.

What Is A Natural Burial?

A natural burial involves returning the body to the earth in a way that allows it to decompose naturally and become part of the surrounding environment.

At Frenchs Forest Bushland Cemetery, natural burial avoids practices and materials that can slow or interfere with the natural decomposition process. Coffins or shrouds are made from biodegradable materials, such as wicker or untreated timber, allowing the body to return naturally to the earth.

Natural burial sites may also use shallower graves, with the body typically placed around 3–4 feet below ground. This allows greater contact with aerated soil, supporting the natural decomposition process and helping return nutrients to the earth.

Natural Burial

A green gravesite is a natural setting designed to resemble a forest floor, providing a peaceful and environmentally conscious place for a loved one to be laid to rest.
The natural or green burial process begins with preparing the body without traditional embalming fluids. Where preservation is required, a non-formaldehyde-based alternative may be used to support a more natural approach to burial.
Where permitted, a gravesite may be marked with a natural stone or rough-cut limestone to identify the deceased. Some sites may also use GPS coordinates to help locate the grave.
Caskets may be made from natural materials such as timber, bamboo or wicker. In some cases, a simple shroud or quilt can be used to wrap the body.

Standard Burial

Traditional burials may involve chemical body preparation and long-lasting coffins or caskets, which can add to the overall cost depending on your choices.
A standard gravesite is typically landscaped and maintained, with a headstone made from materials such as granite or bronze. While these spaces are designed to be attractive and well-kept, they generally have a greater environmental impact than natural burial sites.
Below ground, traditional coffins or caskets may be made from materials such as steel, finished timber or copper, with metal screws and fittings. These materials can slow the natural decomposition process compared with a natural burial.

What Does A Natural Burial Involve?

While every farewell is different and guided by the wishes of the deceased and their loved ones, a natural burial will typically involve:

Preparing the body without disinfectants, preservatives or traditional embalming fluids, allowing for natural decomposition and minimising the impact on the surrounding soil.
The body being laid to rest in a biodegradable coffin or casket, such as one made from natural timber or wicker.
A grave without a burial vault or container, allowing the body to remain in natural contact with the surrounding soil.
A natural burial uses a shallower grave to allow greater contact with aerated soil, supporting natural microbial activity and decomposition.
A natural burial can begin or end with a memorial service at one of our chapels and can be a religious or non-religious ceremony.