Can flowers be left on the grave? Expand Yes. Cut flowers and Funeral tributes may be laid on the grave, with ribbons and cellophane removed. Once flowers start to deteriorate they will be removed. There is a wooden bin for this purpose at the end of the site. Wildflowers may be planted on the grave.
Who supplies the tree? Expand We supply the tree which you choose from the selection we provide. We plant the trees between October and March and we replace any tree that dies within the first 5 years of planting. These trees will create a natural woodland over time and it must be noted that some trees will have to be thinned as the woodland reaches maturity.
What sort of service can we have? Expand The choice is yours. We have many different ceremonies – from graveside services to simple family gatherings. People of all religions are welcome or any form of nonreligious ceremony may be held – or none at all. Local Clergy are happy to conduct services at the Burial Ground.
Can I buy a plot before I die? Expand As the Woodland burial ground is almost full, there are no plots available to pre-purchase.
Can people be buried next to each other? Expand Yes, we hold the adjacent grave (to the right) for the deceased partner/spouse or close relative.
How do I arrange a burial at Ham Down Woodland Burial Ground? Expand You can either arrange the burial through a Funeral Director or make the arrangements yourself. We can give you details of bio-degradable coffins and put you in touch with the grave-digger. There are various forms to fill out which are included in our information pack.
Do you have Coronavirus (Covid-19) protectives measures in place at your farms? Expand Yes. We have carried out a Covid-19 Risk Assessment for each of our farms (which can be made available to you on request) and have cleaning, hygiene and handwashing procedures in place which comply with Government guidelines. We have taken all reasonable steps to ensure that a 2m social distance is adhered to during activities, however, where this is not possible a 1m distance will be imposed and extra precautions applied to minimize transmission risk. These extra precautions include: Keeping activity times as short as possible Using barriers to separate people from one another Using back to back or side to side working Using fixed bubbles or partnering to reduce the numbers of people each person comes into contact with Displaying posters as a reminder
Can I come and take a look around the farm to put my mind at rest? Expand Unfortunately not. At present we cannot allow any visitors on site to look around but we hope to create and upload a Covid-19 video tour to our website soon. In the meantime, Geraldine Turner (Education Manager) will be happy to address any concerns you have via e-mail. Her contact details are [email protected].
Will my child have to wear a mask during the visit? Expand No. As per Government guidelines, all children under 12 are exempt from wearing masks. If they do arrive wearing a mask we will ask them to: Place disposable face masks in a bin Place re-usable face masks in a plastic bag (which will be provided) for use later. If you’d prefer your child to wear a mask, please let us know, so we can enforce this during the visit.
Albie the Apple Expand Hi there! I'm Albie the Apple and I spend most of my time learning with all the children that visit Turnastone Court Farm Education Centre in Herefordshire. I am an apple, grown in one of Herefordshire's traditional orchards. Do you know there are lots of different types of apples? What is your favourite type? Do you know if it is native to this country?
How many children will be at the farm at any one time? Expand We only accept bookings from 1 troop per day consisting of a maximum of 15 children and 3 adults (based on a adult:child supervision ratio of 1:5). If fewer children attend the number of supervising adults must be reduced accordingly.
What are the rules for dropping off and picking up my child? Expand As there is limited parking space at most of our farms you will be allocated a 10 minute slot to drop off and pick up your child. This will avoid unnecessary congestion and help us all adhere to the social distancing guidelines. On arrival at the farm, follow the car park signs and, if possible, reverse into an available parking space. Parents/guardians must remain in the car but will have a clear view of their child making his/her way to the Troop Leader who will be waiting close by. Once your child has been registered we kindly ask that you depart to allow space for the next arrivals. When picking up your child, please remain in the car and your child will be sent across to meet you by the Troop Leader.
What can my child expect when they visit the farm? Expand We have a number of different activities on offer at our farms ranging from meeting/learning about animals and invertebrates to identifying trees and plants. Each session has been especially created to be interactive and age appropriate. All sessions are led by an Education Officer who is experienced in working with Primary aged children and who has a wealth of farming and wildlife knowledge to share. On arrival your child will be registered by the Troop Leader and asked to sanitise their hands. Their first challenge will be to complete a fun Covid-19 outdoor quiz to get them thinking about what Covid-19 rules they must follow during their visit. Once everyone has arrived, children will be given a safety briefing and put into bubbles of 6 or less. Each bubble will be supervised by an adult. When children move around the farm they will be asked to form a socially distanced line, one behind the other and adults will be positioned at the front and back of each line to ensure children are safe and adhering to social distancing. After each break and at the end of an activity, children will be asked to wash their hands at the handwashing station. All equipment children touch during the day will be sanitized before and after use. Children will be asked to pick up their own activity equipment from a resources ‘collection zone’ (to avoid double handling) and will be asked to place it in the ‘drop off’ zone at the end of the activity. Children will not share stationery. Instead individual stationery bags will be made up for each child containing everything your child needs to complete the activity.
What should my child bring/wear? Expand Children should wear their Beavers/Cubs uniform and additionally bring a waterproof jacket with hood in case it rains. Wellies are advisable too if it has been wet prior to the visit or if rain is forecast on the visit day as many of our outside spaces can get muddy. Children should bring a water bottle but should refrain from bringing large bags as socially distanced storage facilities are limited.
Will my child be able to use the toilet during his/her visit? Expand Yes. Toilets will be cleaned and disinfected prior to your child’s arrival and after their departure, as a minimum. Only 4 children at a time will be able to visit the toilets and they will be escorted by an adult. Children waiting for a toilet will be asked to stand on a wait sticker to allow for social distancing. Children must wash their hands thoroughly for 20 seconds after going to the toilet, using the handbasins provided within the toilet cubicle. Children exiting the toilets must follow the directional arrows and stand on a wait sticker until the remaining 2 children are finished. All 4 children will then follow directional arrows back to the activity session location.
My son/daughter has a bit of a temperature but feels fine. Can they still attend? Expand No. If your child or anyone living in your household has developed a high temperature, continuous cough or a loss of, or change in, normal sense of taste or smell (however mild) your child will not be able to attend. The person displaying symptoms must arrange a Covid-19 test as soon as possible and must stay at home for a minimum of 10 days. All other household members who remain well must stay at home for a minimum of 14 days.
We’ve recently been contacted by Track and Trace but nobody in the family has developed Covid-19 symptoms, can my child still attend? Expand If you were contacted by NHS Track and Trace service more than 14 days ago and nobody within your household developed Coronavirus symptoms whilst isolating for 14 days at home, then your child will be able to attend. If, however, a person or persons within the household did develop symptoms during isolation then your child will not be able to attend until 14 days after that person first started to show symptoms.
What will you do if my child starts to display Coronavirus (Covid-19) symptoms during the visit? Expand If your child becomes unwell during their farm visit we will call you immediately to come and collect them. While your child is awaiting collection, we will keep them separate from others by a distance of at least 2 metres, with appropriate adult supervision. When you collect your child you should take them straight home; do not visit the GP, pharmacy, urgent care centre or a hospital. In an emergency, call 999 if they are seriously ill or injured or their life is at risk.
Sir Laurens van der Post Founding Patron Expand The late Sir Laurens van der Post was born in South Africa but moved to the UK in the 1920s. He was a fabulous writer, explorer, farmer and philosopher.
Gordon Beningfield Co-Founder Expand The late Gordon Beningfield was one of the best wildlife and countryside artist of his generation. His paintings showed a delicacy of touch that few could match and he famously turned butterfly “illustration” into art.
Robin Page Co-Founder Expand Co-Founder Robin Page established the Countryside Restoration Trust in 1993 and dedicated the next 27 years of his life to it. Born and bred in Barton, Cambridgeshire, Robin launched CRT in response to growing concerns about intensive, industrialised farming and its impact on wildlife. He is also known for presenting the BBC TV show, One Man and His Dog and his infamous columns in The Telegraph newspaper. He still often writes articles for print publications such as The Lady. Robin is the author of 33 books. In 2019, Robin released the 45th anniversary edition of The Decline of an English Village. Please make a donation today so the CRT can continue to restore a living, working countryside... Please select a donation amount (required) £100 Helps with the cost of providing habitats for a range of farmland wildlife. £50 Allows our conservation team to spend an afternoon monitoring the success of the CRT community’s activities. £20 Provides our volunteers with resources to complete essential conservation tasks. Other Donate
Maxine Warwicker Finance Manager Expand Finance Manager Maxine is a font of all things financial within the Trust – she has many years of experience from working in the financial sectors in London to running her own business. She is an avid Tottenham Hotspur supporter and loves nothing better than going to a music concert! Contact:Email Please make a donation today so the CRT can continue to restore a living, working countryside... Please select a donation amount (required) £100 Helps with the cost of providing habitats for a range of farmland wildlife. £50 Allows our conservation team to spend an afternoon monitoring the success of the CRT community’s activities. £20 Provides our volunteers with resources to complete essential conservation tasks. Other Donate
Elaine Spencer-White Bere Marsh Farm Manager Expand Bere Marsh Farm Manager Elaine Spencer-White closed a rewarding career in 2014 that was anchored within the rural sector of both the UK and Southern Africa, returning to the UK in 2000. After the foot-and-mouth outbreak national policy focused on shortening the food chain under the slogan of ‘local food for local people’. Elaine was the driving-force for a part-EU funded project to research, launch and manage the production and marketing of food and drink for more than 80 farmers, growers and producers across 260sq. miles of the Somerset Levels and Moors. The collective trademark Levels’ Best was registered in 2007 to identify and protect the wide range of produce and the associated markets. Elaine's support for the CRT combines career knowledge and personal passion and concern for native wildlife, along with a sound belief that they should be mutually inclusive. She hiked a total of 300 cross-country miles for the Gordon Beningfield Appeal to assist the “Dorset Dream” and is delighted to now manage the restoration of Bere Marsh Farm. Contact:EmailTelephone Please note, Elaine works Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday so might be slightly delayed responding to your contact. Please make a donation today so the CRT can continue to restore a living, working countryside... Please select a donation amount (required) £100 Helps with the cost of providing habitats for a range of farmland wildlife. £50 Allows our conservation team to spend an afternoon monitoring the success of the CRT community’s activities. £20 Provides our volunteers with resources to complete essential conservation tasks. Other Donate