Wildlife and Sustainability

Rushcliffe Oaks is set in nine acres of countryside featuring a mix of broadleaved trees, formal lawns and shrub borders with large expanses of wildflower and grass meadows and a pond area. We are committed to developing and managing the space in a responsible and sustainable manner, supporting Rushcliffe Borough Council's vision of working together to make a positive difference to the environment.

The Building

The Rushcliffe Oaks building has been built to high environmental standards and includes a green sedum 'living roof', providing an additional habitat for wildlife.

Sustainability was an important factor in the design of the facility and the building is served by its own solar panels. Energy-efficient lighting reduces power consumption and minimises light pollution, and a secondary heat exchange provides warmth to the building. The crematory hall is one of the first in the country to use all-electric technologies, reducing CO2 emissions by up to 85% over traditional gas equivalents. 

Within our car park there is infrastructure for electric car parking charging points which we intend to install in the future.

The Grounds

Throughout its development, Rushcliffe Oaks has been working with the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust to protect and enhance the environment, creating additional habitats for wildlife such as wildflower meadows and sensitively clearing and enhancing the pond area with the planting of native woodland flowers. We are also planning to host a number of beehives, bird boxes and bat boxes.

Tree planting and landscaping work to create additional memorial areas blend seamlessly with the woodland surrounding the site, offering a tranquil and natural visitor experience. The wildflower and grass meadows in particular will provide a haven for pollinators like bees and other insects, including Dingy Skipper butterflies and Meadow Grasshoppers. The site also provides foraging and commuting opportunities for many bat species.

Our grounds team will ensure that a wide variety of trees, plants and wildlife thrive throughout the year. Some areas may appear unkempt at certain times of the year — for example, the grass may be left long and vegetation uncut. This is to protect nesting birds and create natural habitats that are more favourable for wildlife, such as butterflies, bees and hedgehogs.

A Carbon-Neutral Operation

Thanks to our onsite solar generation of electricity, our use of green energy from a Renewable Energy Guarantee of Origin tariff (REGO), and the active capturing of carbon emissions within the diverse natural elements of our memorial grounds, we are pleased to be able to operate Rushcliffe Oaks as a carbon-neutral facility.

The Future

Since we have been working with Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust to protect and enhance the environment at Rushcliffe Oaks, the Trust is now helping us understand the ecological value of the site and will be supporting us in developing a vision which will prioritise wildlife and the site’s natural assets.