Where the sea meets the soil, and love returns to the rhythm of the earth.

A Coastal Sanctuary for People and Pets

Nestled near the Kent coast, Gentle Endings Hythe Natural Burial Ground is a place of profound peace — a landscape where sea air mingles with wildflowers, and the horizon stretches open to the eternal.

Here, people and their beloved animals can rest side by side in a setting of natural beauty and deep tranquillity. The land is open, breathing, and alive — a place where love continues its quiet transformation into new life.

Hythe is one of the first burial grounds in the UK to welcome both human and animal burials within the same natural landscape, recognising that the bonds of love and loyalty do not end with death.

What Makes a Natural Burial

A natural burial is a gentle, environmentally friendly alternative to cremation or traditional burial. It allows the body to return to the earth in the most natural way possible — without embalming, plastics, or pollutants.

At Hythe, each burial:

• Uses biodegradable shrouds or eco-coffins made from willow, bamboo, or sustainably sourced wood.

• Involves no embalming or concrete, ensuring a pure return to nature.

• Supports soil regeneration and biodiversity, becoming part of a living ecosystem.

• Encourages the growth of native trees, wildflowers, and coastal grasses, restoring the land to its natural state.

• Is marked (if at all) with simple wooden markers or living memorials that blend into the landscape.

A natural burial is not just a farewell — it is a continuation of life, where what we were

becomes nourishment for what will be.

The Spirit of Hythe

The Hythe burial ground carries the energy of the coast — fresh, expansive, and healing.
It is a landscape of light and openness, where the sound of birds and distant waves mingle in stillness.

Wild grasses and wildflowers will slowly reclaim the meadow, creating a haven for bees, butterflies, and nesting birds. Over time, the site will transform into a living coastal sanctuary — a memorial woodland

shaped by love, remembrance, and renewal.

Each grave here becomes part of a greater whole: an act of ecological restoration and reverence for creation itself.

Honouring National Standards

Gentle Endings Hythe Natural Burial Ground follows the best practice guidelines of the
Association of Natural Burial Grounds (ANBG), which is part of the Natural Death Centre Charity.

This means we are committed to:

• Managing the land sustainably and ethically.

• Ensuring transparency in all our practices and pricing.

• Offering true choice, autonomy, and respect for diverse beliefs.

• Supporting ceremonies that are personal, ecological, and spiritually authentic.

By aligning with these national standards, we ensure every burial honours both the person and the planet —

with no compromise between love and integrity.

Progress and Planning

We are delighted to announce that planning permission has been granted for our Hythe Natural Burial Ground.

Work is now underway to carry out further ecological and environmental surveys, and to carefully design the infrastructure — natural pathways, discreet parking, and planting schemes — that will support both visitors and wildlife.

Our vision is to create a space that feels sacred yet natural, well cared for yet unmanicured — a landscape

where families can visit and feel peace in every season.

We are working diligently to open as soon as possible, and we invite those who wish to

reserve or purchase a plot to register their interest below.

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 Returning to Nature, Together

Gentle Endings Hythe offers:

• Burials for people and pets, individually or together.

• Family glades — small shared areas where generations or companions may rest side by side.

• Ash interments using biodegradable urns.

• Tree and wildflower memorials that restore the land’s beauty and biodiversity.

• Stunning views

Every burial here is a promise — that what has loved and lived shall give life again.

Visiting and Connecting

We welcome families, celebrants, and doulas to visit by appointment and walk the land as it evolves. You are invited to listen to the wind, breathe the sea air, and imagine how you or your loved ones might one day rest within this landscape of grace.​​​

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