Urgent:Vote for trees in the New Cemetery!

[sparrow]

London Borough of Southwark has now responded to those of us who wish to see more trees in the cemeteries. The council has put forward 4 options for the Old Nursery site behind Honor Oak Station: 2 options are for traditional burials, one for meadow burials, and the last, option 4, is for woodland burials. Option 4 will involve the planting of a tree for every person buried there, and Southwark has acknowledged that, once the trees are established, it will be difficult to re-use the area after 75 years.

If we do not vote for option 4 the council could choose one of the other, less environmentally-friendly, options to the detriment of the ecology and wildlife of the area. Although it would be lovely to have the cemetery declared a nature reserve, realistically, Southwark will not agree to this. Therefore, I believe that Option 4 is a reasonable compromise between people who would like to have their relatives buried in Southwark and those who wish to have trees in the cemeteries.

You can look at the plans for the Old Nursery site at http://www.southwark.gov.uk/info/200032/deaths_funerals_and_cremations/2231/the_future_of_southwarks_cemeteries/4. Responses to Southwark's plans need to be made by 31 October.

Many thanks!

[Sue]

31 October? Surely they have to allow more time than that for responses?

[Penguin68]

If we do not vote for option 4 the council could choose one of the other, less environmentally-friendly, options to the detriment of the ecology and wildlife of the area.

There is no evidence that a wood is more environmentally-friendly than a meadow. Nor that re-use of burial land is not environmentally friendly in its own right. Indeed, if the wrong (non-native) trees are brought in a wood may be far more unfriendly to native species than a meadow. I am not sure anyway that those who opt for 'woodland burials' think of them as being 'done' in an inner London borough.

[Penguin68]

This is the link to the various options https://consultations.southwark.gov.uk/++preview++/environment-leisure/camberwell-new-cemetery-consultation/supporting_documents/Area%20B%20options%20pros%20and%20cons%20summary%20October%202016.pdf

The Woodland option has the lowest overall cost, but the highest cost per burial. The 'cons' are listed as follows:-

Provides only 1050 burial plots/internment spaces

Highest cost per burial

Absence of traditional memorials could make it difficult to sell plots

Those who want to visit the grave may be unable to identify the exact plot

Trees substantially limit the ability to re-use graves

Longest time to reach maturity

Revenue costs (management of woodland) greater than options 2 & 3

The pros are:-

Lowest total cost

Trees planted across the site

Pond feature added

Pedestrian and cycle pathways added from Honor Oak

Responds well to consultation by creating a fully wooded area, without traditional memorials

The pond and pathways are also pros for the meadow scheme.