Natural burials arrive in South Africa
2011-09-22
THE international trend of natural burials has arrived in South Africa with the launch of the first privately owned and operated eco-friendly cemetery in a conservation area in the Western Cape. “Legacy Parks brings a more natural alternative to traditional cemeteries, burials or cremation and a safer, more tranquil place for family members to remember their loved ones in an environment where preserving legacy is a central concept,” says Legacy Parks CEO Willie Fouche. “People now have the option of leaving this world in an earth-friendly way.” The beautiful Wiesenhof site outside Stellenbosch will be developed in phases, offering grave sites and memorialisation areas for the scattering of ashes with seeds to create fields of flowers. Tall indigenous trees and plant life create a natural habitat for wildlife, including zebra and springbok, to flourish inside the nature reserve, making it unique in the world. Only 10 hectares of the 300 hectare site will be used for burial purposes. “While traditional cemeteries have up to 80% of a site covered with graves, our difference is conservation.” A full-time maintenance team, led by a horticulturalist, is responsible for the upkeep of the site. Bodies will be returned to the earth in the least artificial way – in caskets made from biodegradable materials such as wicker – and burial sites will be marked organically with engraved stone markers or a tree planted by relatives. People of all religions may be buried at Legacy Parks. On-site facilities include a coffee shop and a deck across a picturesque dam where commemoration services can be held. “Legacy Parks has secured several privately owned sites across the country, including Pretoria and Port Elizabeth, and intends to develop further eco-cemeteries from 2012.” Funeral policies for Legacy Parks will be underwritten by Sanlam. Burials will be of similar costs to that of the equivalent traditional internment, if not less. “South Africans often view death in a negative light and decisions regarding mortality are put on hold until the need arises. Legacy Parks aims to change this by bringing real dignity and ongoing memorialisation to those we hold dearest”. Eco-cemeteries are gaining traction across the USA, UK, Australia and Canada each month. For more information, visit www.legacyparks.co.za.
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