Chesterfield firm develops environmentally-friendly mixture allowing you to bury loved one’s ashes at home

Research shows that cremated ashes are harmful to plant and animal life when buried or scattered because of their sodium content and alkalinity.

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Now, the Faunus Group has created Living Memorial, an organic mixture designed to neutralise the harmful effects of cremated ashes.

Simon Holden, managing director of the Faunus Group, said: “People want to memorialise their loved ones and pets, yet many people don’t realise that this can cause real damage to the environment.

“The Faunus Group wanted to find a way for people to honour the memory of the deceased in a positive way for the environment.

“We ended up working with an American research team from a company called VPI.

“We’ve now brought their research over to the UK and are working with local authorities and private crematorium operators in reducing the impact of cremated remains on their grounds. Basically, untreated, ashes kill plants.

“We have been stunned by the initial uptake and interest – and are currently in the process of launching this bio-tech in individual kits to enable the public to be able to safely grow memorial trees and plants at home.

“You will be able to receive your loved ones’ ashes back from the crematorium or funeral director already treated and ready for use in your memorial planting.

“All our manufacturing is based in Chesterfield,” Simon added.

Simon is also behind the Woodland Burial Company, which can inter people’s ashes and mark their final resting place with a tree or plaque at woodland off Matlock Road.

He took the Derbyshire Times on a tour of the wood in 2017 and explained that he got the idea for the unusual business from his late dad Granville, who was the first person to be buried there.

“Dad always said that he didn’t want to end up in the garden of remembrance,” Simon said.

“So when he passed away we decided to set something up which followed the same ethos of woodland rejuvenation that he had.”

For more information about Living Memorial, visit www.livingmemorial.co.uk

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