Frequently Asked Questions

Opening hours:
The Rushcliffe Oaks office is open on weekdays, except bank holidays, from 9.00am – 5.00pm Monday to Thursday and from 9.00am – 4.30pm on Fridays. The pedestrian gates for the site are always unlocked, giving access 24 hours a day, all year round. Vehicle gates are open during office hours as above, and also from 9.00am – 5.00pm on Saturdays, Sundays, and Bank Holidays.

Is there car parking at Rushcliffe Oaks? What about accessible parking?
We have a large car park on site with nearly 100 spaces, including six accessible parking spaces. Should it be needed, there is additional free public parking available at the nearby Shepherds Pocket Park & Ride.
We are aware that our accessible spaces are located near to the front of the building, but that at the end of a service guests will exit via our flower court. To help with this, we have added an extra short path from the flower court to the nearest tarmac surface, where a car can be brought to collect those with mobility issues.

If I arrive early is there somewhere for me to wait?
On arrival family and friends can gather in our modern, comfortable and quiet waiting room. There is limited seating available for approximately 14 people.

Where are the toilets?
There are three toilets in the waiting area, including two accessible toilets. There is also a toilet available after exiting the Ceremony Hall.

Where is the coffin placed?
When you lose someone who is central in your life it is only fitting they should rest front and centre in the Ceremony Hall during your celebration of their life. The coffin is placed reverently by the bearers onto a raised platform known as a catafalque.

Will a curtain close around the coffin?
We understand how difficult families can find it as the curtain closes, so at Rushcliffe Oaks we offer something different. During a service, the committal moment can be more gently marked with a subtle and dignified fading of the lighting. There are no curtains, no gates, and no disturbance – just peace.

What happens to the flowers after the service?
We encourage families to take the beautiful floral displays home after the service, but if you choose to leave them at Rushcliffe Oaks then, at the end of each day, they are moved into our floral display area. Generally they remain here for a minimum of three days, after which they will be sensitively repurposed or disposed of via composting and recycling where possible.

How long does the service last?
A 60 minute time period is provided in the Ceremony Hall, including time for everyone to enter at the start and exit at the end. We suggest a service time of up to about 45 minutes, so there is no feeling of being hurried or rushed. If you wish, further time can also be allocated.

How are ashes kept separate?
A cremator can only accept one coffin at a time and all the ashes are removed from the cremator before the next cremation. An identity card is used throughout the whole process until the final relinquishing of ashes, thereby ensuring correct identification.

What happens after the funeral service?
Once the funeral is over your attention will turn to your wishes regarding your loved one’s ashes. During the arrangement of the cremation you will have filled in a form indicating your wishes, but with time to reflect you may find your preference has changed. There is no obligation to adhere to your initial instructions, so you should ensure that your Funeral Director or the crematorium is instructed to hold onto the ashes for a time. Should you choose to change your mind, a simple written instruction will ensure that we are able to follow your updated instructions. We do recommend that you take your time with this decision, to ensure you make the right choice for you and your loved one.

Can my loved one's ashes be scattered at Rushcliffe Oaks?
There are designated areas for scattering in both the formal Acorn Gardens and the more natural Quercus Woodland. You have the option of whether you would like to be present at the time of scattering the ashes. We also have memorialisation plaque options available for you to place a long-term memorial to your loved one. If your loved one was cremated at a different crematorium we would consider it a privilege to arrange for a scattering to take place here at Rushcliffe Oaks.

Can my loved one's ashes be interred at Rushcliffe Oaks?
We do not perform below-ground interments, but we do have a number of memorialisation options which can accommodate cremated remains. There are stone orbs available within both the Acorn Gardens and the Quercus Woodland, or a number of niches in our natural columbarium stones at the border of the two areas. There is no requirement that your loved one had a service at Rushcliffe Oaks to make use of our memorialisations.

For our full range of memorialisation options, please visit the Memorialisations section of our website.