At Rushcliffe Oaks we pride ourselves on being good stewards of the natural environment, both locally and on a wider scale, and our operations have all been built with this aim in mind.
The decision was made to install an electric cremator at Rushcliffe Oaks because of the enormous environmental benefits of doing so. CO2 emissions from our cremator are reduced by up to 85% from those given off by a traditional gas-powered cremator, and coupled with our use of a Renewable Energy Guarantee of Origin (REGO) supply tariff, this method of cremating has recently been recognised by the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management (ICCM) as the greenest technology currently available*.
We are proud to be the only crematorium in the local area to offer this type of environmentally-conscious cremation.
Beyond the actual act of cremation, we also endeavour to be as environmentally friendly and sustainable as possible in other areas of our work as well.
The crematorium building itself was constructed with a ‘living roof’, planted with green sedums to provide an additional habitat for wildlife. Birds such as Oystercatchers and Pied Wagtails can often be spotted on it, searching for worms or insects, and over 30 species of wild birds have so far been identified in the grounds, including Buzzards, Red Kites, Swifts, and Blackcaps.
We are also developing the Quercus Woodland area of the site with wildflower beds and careful use of native deciduous trees, and a pond has been created at the north end of the site. We are very excited that we will soon be hosts to a pair of beehives in the grounds as well!
All of our lighting utilises LEDs, and we have our own bank of photovoltaic (PV) panels on site that generate in excess of 25kW of electricity per year from sunlight. As a result, we are proud to be operationally carbon-neutral.
The lighting we do have in the grounds is dependent on light sensors, so only comes on if necessary, and switches off automatically at 8pm. In this way we balance the preservation of the darker natural environment of our site for crepuscular and nocturnal wildlife, whilst still allowing families to visit their loved ones’ memorials in the grounds even after the vehicle access gates have closed. Pedestrian access to the site is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
The memorials in our grounds use locally-sourced materials as much as possible, including the use of Stanton Moor sandstone from Derbyshire for our memorial plaque kerbs and columbarium standing stones, rather than the more traditional imported granite or marble to be found elsewhere.
To further support our local wildlife, we do not permit the use of glass or plastic memorials in the grounds, or the release of balloons, floating lanterns, or wildlife of any kind such as butterflies or doves. The families who visit us to remember their loved ones are encouraged to bring only naturally bio-degradable items, especially cut flowers, so that there is no long term damage to the site, and that everything left can eventually be composted.
The responsibility for maintaining the wonderful benefits of our natural environment falls to each of us, individually and in our corporate decisions, and this is a responsibility we take very seriously here at Rushcliffe Oaks.
*ICCM Journal, Spring 2024: 'Water an Alternative to Flame', p.13.