What to Do with Ashes in County Durham

Find woodland burial, ashes interment and memorial services in County Durham, from Durham and Wingate to the Durham Heritage Coast.

County Durham runs from the high moorland and waterfalls of the North Pennines and Teesdale down to the Durham Heritage Coast, with the cathedral city of Durham at its centre. It's a county of wide open spaces, river valleys and a proud coastline, and families here often look for a woodland burial or eco funeral in a peaceful setting, or a scattering by the sea. Not sure where to start? Our guide to what to do with ashes after cremation covers the main options.

Woodland burial in County Durham

Tithe Green Blue House is an established woodland burial ground near Wingate in East Durham. Ashes are interred in a biodegradable container beneath the mature trees already growing in the woodland, marked with an inscribed Welsh slate plaque. Only natural materials are used, with no plastic, concrete or chemicals, and the woodland is open to visitors at any time. See all eco memorials and woodland burial in County Durham.

More options nearby

Neighbouring Tyne and Wear, North Yorkshire and Cumbria have more memorial providers, and many jewellery, glass and fireworks makers work UK-wide by post. See our memorial ideas for ashes for inspiration.

Is an eco funeral or woodland burial possible in Durham?

Yes. A woodland burial uses biodegradable materials and no traditional headstone, with the land left as natural habitat. Tithe Green Blue House near Wingate is the county's woodland burial option. Our guide to cremation vs burial in the UK explains how the options compare.

Is burial at sea possible off the Durham coast?

Scattering ashes at sea doesn't need a licence, so you can do that from the shore with permission, or from a boat. A full burial at sea is different: it needs a licence from the Marine Management Organisation and is only allowed at a handful of designated sites, one of which is off Tynemouth, just up the coast. Our guide to scattering ashes at sea covers what to expect.

Can I scatter ashes in the Durham Dales?

Usually yes, but you need permission from whoever owns the land. Much of the moorland is privately owned estate land, so check before you go. Read our guide on whether it's legal to scatter ashes in the UK for more.

Can I visit a woodland burial ground whenever I like?

It depends on the site. Tithe Green Blue House is open to visitors 24 hours a day, seven days a week, while others have set opening hours, so check before you go.