Haywards Heath Cemetery (Western Road) Contact: Mrs H Hewett, Haywards Heath Town Council, The Town Hall, 40 Boltro Road, HAYWARDS HEATH, West Sussex RH16 1BA Telephone (01444) 455694 Fax (01444) 455075 e-mail:
Haywards Heath Town Council is the burial authority for Haywards Heath and operates an attractive cemetery in Western Road.
Within the cemetery grounds there are separate sections for interments of different denominations, for children and the Garden of Remembrance for cremated remains.
Garden of Remembrance The Garden of Remembrance is situated just inside the main gates of the cemetery on the right hand side. It is divided into three sections depending on the type of memorial to be placed on the plot, headstone, flat tablet or lectern.
Woodland graves offer an alternative natural form of burial in which the accumulating graves will remain forever in a newly created wooded area.The area has been planned to recreate a traditional woodland, which will provide important environmental benefits for the encouragement and protection of wildlife.
The Cemetery
The woodland burial area is located at the north eastern corner of WesternRoadCemetery, Haywards Heath, with grave spaces available to provide a natural form of burial.
Returning to Nature
The burial area has been carefully considered and the grave spaces recorded on plans in order that they are locatable subsequently in woodland and undergrowth.Each grave will be prepared to a single depth.Following an interment, sufficient time must be permitted in order to allow the settlement of soil. The grass will be returned to cover the grave site.Relatives may plant a small native species tree on the grave space as a living memorial.
Ecological coffins
In order to ensure that the Woodland Burial area remains as natural as possible in every respect, only bio-degradable coffins will be permitted.Wooden coffins will only be accepted if manufactured from timber felled in managed tree forests and must be ecologically sound.The deceased person will be accepted for burial in either a corrugated cardboard coffin, a home made coffin (to an approved design and standard) or a suitable coffin purchased from a Funeral Director.This also applies to caskets containing cremated remains, which are also permitted for interment in this area.
Maintaining the area
The woodland burial area will be managed for the benefit of wildlife.This entails limited numbers of mowings, at specified times each year.It must be appreciated that the traditional “neat and tidy” appearance of cemeteries will not apply to this burial area.
Funeral arrangements
Graves will not be reserved for specific religions and the dead of various faiths will be buried in the same area.If a religious ceremony is desired at the interment, this wish will be respected.
Memorials
As a natural environment is being provided, in order to encourage wildlife to thrive, no memorials will be permitted in this area.The tree to be planted, following an interment, will be a living memorial and will offer greater longevity than a traditional headstone.
Fees
Woodland graves may be reserved for future use by applying to the Town Hall in Haywards Heath and paying the appropriate fee.A Deed of exclusive Right of Burial will be prepared and issued indicating an ownership of 50 years.Unlike traditional graves, this period is not significant, as the growing trees will prevent the grave being re-used and the burial will remain undisturbed as part of the natural woodland.
In conclusion
Woodland burial is not for people who require a neat and tidy grave with its traditional headstone.It will be chosen by those who love birds and wild life and who wish to create a woodland for future generations.
Cemetery 
