Deciding What To Do With Ashes: Guidance from Your Birmingham Funeral Directors, Thomas Furber & Co.
After the cremation has taken place, you will start to think about what to do with a loved one’s ashes.
There is no need to rush this decision. To give you all the time you need, Thomas Furber & Co. your local funeral director here in Harborne, is here to assist. We can collect the ashes directly from the crematorium on your behalf and safely look after them at our funeral home until you are ready to collect them or make your final decision.
The Initial Decision: Scatter, Bury, or Keep Close?
The first choice about what to do with a loved one’s ashes is often the most significant, dictating the path you take next. Ashes can be scattered, buried (which is called interment) or you can choose to keep them close to you.
- Scattering Ashes
It is a powerful and symbolic act, releasing the ashes in a meaningful location. - Burying (Interment)
Burying the ashes provides a permanent, identifiable place to visit and reflect. - Keeping Close
Retaining the ashes, or a portion of them, can be a comforting presence. Ashes can be kept close, either at home in a beautiful urn or by placing a small amount into a wearable memento.
Choosing a Suitable Urn or Casket
Whether you plan to scatter, inter, or keep the ashes, selecting a suitable container is an important first step.
Urns and caskets come in a wide variety of materials, designs, and purposes:
- Traditional Urns
These are decorative pieces designed to be displayed at home or for interment. - Biodegradable Urns
Biodegradable urns are designed for natural burials in Earth or water and dissolve over time. - Keepsake Urns
These are small containers that are perfect for dividing the ashes among family members. - Cremation Caskets
Cremation caskets are often simpler, rectangular boxes used for the burial of the ashes.
Ideas for Burying (Interring) the Ashes
Interring the ashes provides a permanent and specific location for future generations to visit.
Here are some ideas of where to bury ashes. However, before interment, we recommend checking the specific rules and regulations of the chosen location, particularly if choosing an existing family plot.
- At a local Crematorium in Birmingham (such as Lodge Hill, Perrey Barr or Yardley).
Our local crematoriums all have dedicated spaces in the Gardens of Remembrance for the interment of ashes. Families often like to mark the location where the ashes are buried with a plaque, small memorial stones, or a rose tree. Always check with the crematorium for the rules on marking the location in the Gardens of Remembrance. - An Existing Family Plot
If you would like to inter the ashes of your loved one within an existing family grave, we can assist you with this. You may also wish to have an inscription added to the existing headstone. - Woodland Burial Site
Woodland burial sites offer families the opportunity to place the ashes in a dedicated natural burial ground for cremated remains. Memorials and markers are often natural, such as a planted tree or simple wooden marker. We have a couple of natural burial grounds in the West Midlands, Westall Park is a natural burial ground near Redditch, Worcestershire where ashes can be buried. As well as Alne Wood Park in Alcester, Warwickshire. - A Favourite Location
This is a wonderful choice, but please note that burying ashes on private land (such as a favourite sports club or a hotel’s grounds) requires the explicit permission of the landowner. - In Your Garden
It is a personal and comforting option that allows the deceased to remain close to home. Memorials can be small statuettes, benches, or planting a favourite rose bush over the spot. Before burying ashes in your garden, it’s important to think about the future sale of your house. You are not legally required to tell a buyer that ashes are buried in the garden, but it is still a good idea to do so, as it can be seen as a title defect or a potential issue that could cause future problems.
Ideas for Scattering the Ashes
Scattering the ashes of a loved one can be a beautiful and liberating final act, especially if it occurs in a location that held special meaning for them, such as a favorite beauty spot, coastline, or walking trail.
Legal Considerations and Permissions
While scattering is permitted on private land with the owner’s permission, there are important laws and permissions to consider for public spaces:
- Private Land
You must always seek explicit permission from the landowner. - Public Parks/Land
If you are considering a public space in Birmingham (like a specific park or common), you must contact the Birmingham City Council or governing body to ask about their specific regulations. - Water/Sea
There are laws in place to protect the environment. You must follow environmental guidelines from the Environment Agency. Key rules include not scattering within 1km of drinking water supplies, avoiding areas with buildings, marinas, or swimming/angling, and ensuring the scattering is done on a calm, non-windy day. You should also ensure any tributes are biodegradable and do not cause pollution. Contact the local council or the Harbour Master for more information on scattering on the local beach or at sea. If you are scattering ashes from a boat, ensure you choose a company that uses eco-friendly practices and has the necessary licenses.
Unique Scattering Services
For an extraordinary tribute, there are specialist companies in the UK that offer unique scattering services.
- Aerial Ashes
Aerial Ashes offer a serene, respectful, and dignified farewell using drone technology— not as a gimmick, but as a graceful way to honour your loved one’s memory from above. Ashes can be scattered over cherished locations across the UK, whether it be a coastline, a favorite place or a site connected to the interests and passions of the deceased. - Aura Flights – Ashes into Space
Aura Flights offer a unique service to take the ashes to the edge of the Earth’s atmosphere. Following their release, the ashes join with winds in the stratosphere and travel around the globe, to eventually make their way down to the Earth’s surface in the form of rainfall or snowfall. Read more about our partnership with Aura Flights.
Creative and Keepsake Ideas
If you wish to keep your loved one close, there are countless ways to transform the ashes into a tangible, lasting memento:
- Memorial Jewellery
You can incorporate a small amount of ashes into a beautiful piece of jewellery, such as a pendant, ring, or charm. - Keepsake Mementos
You can also have a small amount of ashes placed into miniature urns, glass paperweights, or other decorative objects for the home. - Ashes into Art
Ashes can be mixed with materials to create a truly unique piece of glass art or a painting. - Ashes into an LP Record
This is a unique option where the ashes are pressed into a custom vinyl record containing the favorite music or recorded voice notes of the deceased.
Here To Help You
There is no need to rush this decision: This is a time to pause, take a breath, and choose a final resting place or memorial that truly reflects the life lived and brings you comfort. When you are ready, our team is always here to offer advice and support as you navigate these choices. Please feel free to call us at any time to discuss your options.
