When a father experiences the unimaginable loss of a child, most of the focus turns to the mother’s grief. While this support is vital, a father’s pain is often unintentionally overlooked or misunderstood. As a result, many men struggle with their grief in silence and are forced to cope with feelings of isolation and loss without the same level of attention or support. 

This is why spaces like Men’s Sheds are so important. They provide a safe and supportive environment where men can connect with like-minded people, share their worries and find understanding from those going through the same thing. They also give them room to build relationships, rediscover purpose and navigate life’s challenges after loss.  

We understand how painful grief can be. This blog will help guide you through these emotions as well as providing places you can go to seek support.   

The challenges facing grieving fathers

When a father loses a child, men are often expected to remain strong and stoic, so they focus on supporting their families rather than addressing their own emotions. This can leave many fathers feeling isolated and unable to express their grief, heightening their pain and leaving them with no room to heal.  

Acknowledge your grief

If you’ve suffered the loss of a child, it’s important you allow yourself to wholly feel your emotions – good and bad. Give yourself permission to mourn in your own way, whether that’s through quiet reflection, talking to someone or engaging in activities that help you process your feelings. 

Open up to people you trust

It can be tempting or even instinctual to keep your emotions bottled up, but grief isn’t something you can put in a box. Instead, sharing your feelings with someone you trust can help you start to come to terms with your loss. Whether it’s a friend, partner or a support group, talking can help take some of the weight off your shoulders. It can also keep the memory of your loved one alive. You don’t have to speak if you’re not ready; writing a letter or even spending time with your friends and family in silence can bring a sense of comfort. 

Find purpose in activities you enjoy doing

Doing activities, you enjoy can help you find a sense of purpose and normalcy in your grief. Examples could include practical tasks like DIY, hobbies or even volunteering within your local community. Everyday activities provide structure and allow you to channel your energy into something other than your grief – even if it’s only for a few short hours when you feel up to it. 

Consider getting professional help

Sometimes, the weight of grief can feel too heavy to carry alone. Seeking support from a specialist bereavement therapist or counsellor can provide you with the tools you need to navigate your emotions and find a healthy way through your journey with grief.  

Seek support from Men’s Sheds

Building social connections often proves more challenging for men than it does for women. Unlike women, many older men have fewer close friendships and are less likely to open up about personal worries or health concerns. While this isn’t true for everyone, retirement can leave some men feeling adrift, as if they’ve lost their sense of purpose or identity. That’s where Men’s Sheds step in. They offer a way to rediscover connection, community and a renewed sense of belonging. 

Men’s Sheds encourage people to come together to make, repair and repurpose, supporting projects in their local communities. Men’s Sheds are similar to garden sheds, but instead of being solitary, they’re a place where men can build social connections and friendships while sharing skills, knowledge and plenty of laughter.  

While these spaces are known as Sheds, they can be whatever the members (or Shedders as they’re called) want them to be. This can include empty offices, portable cabins, warehouses and garages. The most important thing is that the Sheds offer men the chance to meet like-minded people, share their worries and gain a renewed sense of purpose. That’s why Men’s Sheds are vital. 

There are 900+ Open Sheds across the UK right now. Head over to the website to find a Men’s Shed in your area. You can also learn more about starting your own.

Other supportive bereavement groups

Men’s Sheds aren’t the only support group you can turn to if you need guidance. There are several other resources, charities and networks that offer help and advice, including:  

Find the support you need in a GreenAcres Living Memorial Park

If you’re struggling to come to terms with grief or need someone to talk to, we hold events, remembrance services and bereavement cafés at our Parks throughout the year.  

You may find particular comfort from our bereavement cafés, which are held within the beautiful landscapes of our Parks and provide a kind, supportive space with understanding from others who are also living with life after loss. We also provide grief books, signposting information to other bereavement organisations and other resources to help with your grief journey.  

Head over to our website to find a GreenAcres Bereavement Cafés. 

Deciding what to do with your loved one’s ashes after cremation is a deeply personal choice. With cremations becoming increasingly popular in the UK, there are so many unique and wonderful ways in which you can honour your loved one.  

Nowadays, one in every 25 funerals arranged by Co-op are direct cremations. Yet, according to the Co-op’s Changing Face of Funerals report, one in ten (9%) of people who have arranged a cremation say that can’t decide what to do with their loved one’s ashes.  

We’ve pulled together some of the most popular ideas, along with some heart-warming stories from members of the GreenAcres team, to inspire you to find the perfect memorial. 

Have them crafted into jewellery 

Memorial jewellery can help you feel close to your loved one. Enabling you to carry them with you wherever you go. Whether you choose a ring, bracelet, pendant, cufflinks or brooch, the ashes can be imprinted directly onto the jewellery or a resin gem, providing comfort through every stage of your life.  

The multi-award winning Ashes Memorial Jewellery uses innovative technology to turn ashes into beautiful keepsake pieces. Similarly, EverWith Memorial Jewellery specialises in creating beautiful, bespoke keepsakes in memory of loved ones who have passed away. 

Scatter the ashes somewhere special 

Scattering a loved one’s ashes is one of the most common ways to say goodbye. 28% of people have them scattered at a crematorium, while 17% scatter them in a special landmark or beauty spot. 

Some of the most popular ideas include scattering the ashes at sea or somewhere that meant a lot to your loved one. You can also have the ashes scattered from a plane where they can roam free forever more.  

Many of our families have recently asked about Viking burials. While Viking burials are illegal in the UK, you can have ashes sent off to sea or on a lake in a Viking ship. 

One of our recently bereaved widows is planning on buying a casket for her husband’s ashes. It gets taken out to sea on the outgoing tide and gradually dissolves, dispersing without the need to go out in a boat. That way, wherever his children end up in the world, they only have to go to the sea to be near to their dad.  

Create a Living Memorial 

One of our favourite ways of memorialising a loved one is a living memorial. By interring (burying) their ashes in nature, you create a lasting tribute – a place of remembrance that grows and changes with the seasons.

Our Living Memorial options provide a serene space where treasured memories can bloom. They offer the opportunity to create new rituals, reflect, and find comfort in the beauty of nature, ensuring your loved one’s legacy lives on.

At GreenAcres Living Memorial Parks, we have many options for you to choose from, including: 

Tree Circle 

Set amidst natural beauty, a memorial within a Tree Circle serves as a heartfelt tribute to a life well lived. A Tree Circle offers a shared resting place, we have many beautiful Tree Circles available across our Parks, the picture above shows a Tree Circle in our woodland area in springtime, covered in a carpet of bluebells.  Tree Circles can be found in our serene woodlands, open meadows, tranquil lawns and lush orchards. Each plot within a Tree Circle accommodates burials, ashes, or a combination of both.

One of our families chose a Tree Circle in our wildflower meadow, a perfect spot for their loved one:

“We chose a plot within a tree circle in Heatherley Park for our mum’s ashes, nestled in the wildflower meadow. She loved the sunshine – we always called her “the lizard” – and this spot is bathed in sunlight for most of the day.

It’s the perfect place to bring our children, her beloved grandchildren, to share stories about her and remember her wonderful ways. It feels like a peaceful sanctuary in nature, surrounded by wildlife, wildflowers, and beautiful trees – a place as full of life as she was.”

Living Memorial Tree 

A living Memorial Tree is a natural memorial that will last for generations, dedicated exclusively to your family. Planted as a sapling (young tree) you will see them grow and flourish forevermore. An optional outdoor ceremony can also be held at the time of planting, adding a personal touch to this tribute. Living Memorial Trees are situated in our serene woodlands, open meadows, tranquil lawns and lush orchards. A Living Memorial Tree can accommodate ashes, burials, or a combination of both.

Living Memorial Bay 

Bordered by natural logs or neatly trimmed hedges, a Living Memorial Bay serves as a timeless tribute to love and remembrance. Each bay offers a unique and dedicated space for families to connect with their loved ones. Set amidst our peaceful woodlands and open meadows, each bay is thoughtfully designed to blend with the surroundings. Embraced by gentle greenery, a Living Memorial Bay is ideal for those seeking a private space. Suitable for ashes, burials, or a combination of both.

Find a unique spot that holds sentimental value 

When it comes to laying ashes to rest, nothing is off-limits. And every family’s story is unique. So much so, one of our families has chosen to keep in their knicker drawer! 

“My mum used to iron all the underwear in the house and wouldn’t allow us to leave without clean, freshly ironed underwear. I felt my knicker drawer was the best place to keep Mum until I can let go of her. It’s somewhat of a tradition.” 

You may have a place in the house that meant a lot to your loved one and reflects their life, allowing you to create a more personal tribute.  

Get a tattoo with the ashes in the ink 

A tattoo using your loved one’s ashes in the ink is a wonderful way to keep them close to you forever. It may provide you both a visual reminder and a physical connection to them. The process is the same as getting a normal tattoo; only a small portion of the ashes are mixed with traditional ink  

Only some of the ashes are used for the tattoo. So you still have the option to find the perfect resting place for your loved one with the remaining ashes. Creation Ink has a range of helpful blogs and advice if you’d like to learn more. 

Split the ashes 

If you’re struggling to know what to do with your loved one’s ashes, you can pick multiple options to honour their life. One of our families has chosen to split her father-in-law’s ashes across a few of his favourite locations. 

“My father-in-law was a keen fisherman, so half of his ashes are interred by the pond in GreenAcres, while the rest have been split into three – a paperweight containing a small amount of his ashes which is on my mother-in-law’s bookshelf, a miniature urn, which is in my brother-in-law’s fishing bag, and the rest in a floating water pillow placed in the river where he loved to go fishing!” 

Lay them to rest at GreenAcres  

Many families take great comfort from laying their loved ones’ ashes to rest at a GreenAcres Living Memorial Park. Whatever you’re looking for, there are several options to choose from to create a lasting and personal tribute to the person you love, a special place in nature you will want to visit time and time again.  

Talk to a member of our friendly and knowledgeable team to discuss all the available memorial options for ashes at our GreenAcres Living Memorial Parks.  

Father’s Day is a time to celebrate dads and everything they mean to us. But if you’re suffering from the loss of a father or father figure, it can be an incredibly tough experience to go through.

memorial tree of father

For many people, a father or father figure may represent strength, stability, security and support. Maybe they were a great source of humour, joy or wisdom – a mentor and role model. The flip side of a father’s aura of strength and dependability means it might be hard to get close to him in an emotional sense. But whatever the nature of your relationship, a father figure is likely to have a huge impact on your life, shaping your choices and informing your character.

So, when a father dies, the hole that leaves in our lives can hollow us out and leave us feeling an enormous range of emotions. For some, that can vary from deep sadness to vulnerability, and even a sense of unfinished business, depending on the nature of our relationship and the circumstances of their passing. Father’s Day can bring old feelings back to the surface and amplify those that are already there.

GreenAcres is here to help. We understand how overwhelming Father’s Day can be, so this blog offers some advice on how you can cope.

Remember, your feelings are normal

People lose their loved ones in different phases of their lives and no matter how expected or unexpected the death is – it hurts.

When you’re grieving the loss of a father or father figure, your feelings are likely to change from one moment to the next. You may feel shock one day and anger the next – or you may experience these emotions within hours of each other. However you’re feeling, you must be kind to yourself and remember that this is completely normal.

Supressing these emotions and avoiding your grief is likely to prolong the pain. Embrace your feelings as best you can and try not to be too hard on yourself when you’re feeling particularly emotional around Father’s Day.

Find a fitting memorial

Living Memorial Tree

Sometimes finding the right memorial for your loved one can be soothing. Some people find peace in visiting the memorial, whether it’s just sitting nearby and reading a book, spending time keeping your memorial neat and tidy, or simply reflecting on happy memories. Talking can help too – whether you’re sharing what’s on your mind with your loved one or having a chat with someone else who is visiting or working at the Park.  

Everyone’s feelings, needs and wishes are unique, and everybody’s bereavement journey is different. Places like GreenAcres recognise this and support you to plan and create the perfect service, burial and lasting memorial for you and your family.

At GreenAcres, we can help you find the perfect memorial to your loved one. Our friendly and knowledgeable team are on hand to support you with creating a fitting tribute that you can visit and reflect on precious memories for years to come.

Revisit memories

Sometimes revisiting memories and talking about the person you’ve lost can help you along your bereavement journey.

You may find comfort from going through old photographs from when your dad was young. There are bound to be many parts of his life you didn’t know about, which can help you to understand more about his experiences and the life he lived. There’ll also be certain objects that evoke special memories of your dad, which you can keep and cherish forever.

It can also help to visit your dad’s grave or memorial on Father’s Day. While this is a personal choice, many people find comfort from visiting their loved one’s resting spot and tending to their grave – even if just for an hour or two.

Do something your dad would have loved

What better way to honour your dad’s memory than by doing something he loved when he was alive? Whether he enjoyed pottering in the garden, fishing by the lake, taking a walk through the woods or cooking a delicious meal, spending the day doing his favourite things is a lovely way to remember him as he was.

Share stories with loved ones

If you feel up to being around other people on Father’s Day, you may take comfort from sharing and hearing about stories involving your dad. Get together with those who knew him over a cup of tea and bring him to life through your collective memories. You may have turned your dad’s social media accounts into an online memorial. If so, you can share tributes on there and invite others to do the same.

Write a letter

If you find it hard to articulate your grief, particularly around Father’s Day, it can be a helpful and cathartic experience to write your feelings down in a letter to your father. You may find this helps bring you closer to your dad. It can also help you make sense of complex emotions, bringing a sense of peace and comfort to guide you through this difficult time.

If you long to be closer to your dad again, you could try reading out your letter to him, imagining he’s there with you. Tell him you’re with him and you love him. It may not work for everyone, but this process helps some people manage the pain of their loved one’s passing.

Seek help from a professional resource

It’s important to remember that you don’t have to deal with your grief alone. If you or someone you know is dealing with the loss of a father figure, here are some resources that might help you:

Sadly, men aren’t encouraged enough to talk about their mental health. As a result, they bottle up their feelings in order to cope. According to a report by Mind Men’s Mental Health, only two in five men admit to feeling worried or low, and are far less likely than women to seek support.

There are several organisations that can help provide support and guidance for those who are struggling following their father’s death. Men’s Sheds is one such movement. Men’s Sheds are community space for men to connect, converse and create together, reducing loneliness and isolation. There are 582 across the UK, so there’s bound to be one near you.

Supporting children through loss

Losing a father or father figure is hard for anyone, irrespective of their age. But if a father dies when his children are still young, this can add an additional layer of complexity to the emotions felt by those he leaves behind.

As well as dealing with the rawness of their grief when they lose their father. Children and young people are likely to go through the grieving process again and in different ways when Father’s Day approaches.   

It’s important for everyone involved to find the support they need to explore their emotions and cope with their grief during this difficult time. Thankfully, there are many resources that can help:

Father's Day Service at GreenAcres
Father’s Day Service at GreenAcres

Come and join us at one of our Father’s Day services

Please join us in your nearest GreenAcres Park this Father’s Day, to remember all the important men in our lives. Spend precious time together as a family to celebrate and remember the things you loved about your dad in a peaceful, quiet and reflective setting.  

Book onto a Father’s Day service to secure your slot.  

 

As our world becomes increasingly conscious of the environmental impact of our choices, funerals are no exception. Traditional burial practices often rely on materials and processes that can leave a heavy environmental footprint. However, eco-friendly alternatives for burials, such as those offered at GreenAcres Living Memorial Parks, are transforming how we honour our loved ones while protecting the planet for future generations. At the forefront of this movement is the innovative Loop Living Cocoon™, a groundbreaking eco-coffin that exemplifies the future of sustainable burials.

The Growing Importance of Green Burials

Eco-friendly burials are designed to minimise the environmental impact of traditional funeral practices. By prioritising biodegradable materials, reducing emissions, and avoiding harmful chemicals, green burials offer a more harmonious way of returning to the earth. GreenAcres Living Memorial Parks have embraced this philosophy by providing tranquil woodland and parkland where families can say goodbye in a way that honours both their loved ones and the natural world.

Key elements of eco-friendly burials include:

GreenAcres Living Memorial Parks are uniquely designed to support these principles, offering not only a serene resting place but also a commitment to environmental stewardship.

Introducing the Loop Living Cocoon™

The Loop Living Cocoon™ represents a revolutionary step in green funerals. Made from mycelium – the underground root network of mushrooms – and upcycled hemp fibres, this eco-coffin is 100% natural and fully biodegradable. Remarkably, it biodegrades within just 45 days, enriching the soil and increasing biodiversity. And a tree was not cut down to create this type of coffin.

Why Mycelium? Mycelium is nature’s ultimate recycler. It transforms organic matter into nutrients, shares resources with the forest floor, and enhances soil quality. By utilising mycelium, the Loop Living Cocoon™ not only minimises environmental harm but actively contributes to a healthier planet.

Features of the Loop Living Cocoon™

Its hydrophobic properties make it suitable for all weather conditions, and it can be stored indefinitely when kept in a dry, ventilated space.

Redefining Legacies

Choosing the Loop Living Cocoon™ is more than an eco-friendly decision; it’s a statement about the legacy you wish to leave. By choosing a coffin that enriches the soil and promotes biodiversity, you create a living memorial that continues to give back to the earth. This aligns perfectly with GreenAcres’ mission to sustain and enhance our natural landscapes for generations to come.

Loop will have a distribution centre in the UK, meaning UK Funeral Directors will be able to purchase the Loop Living Cocoon™ on request.

A greener future

At GreenAcres Living Memorial Parks, we believe that everyone should have the information and options to make meaningful and environmentally conscious funeral choices. As we move toward achieving net-zero emissions across our business, innovations like the Loop Living Cocoon™ play a vital role in shaping the future of funerals.

Loop Biotech have also created an urn called Loop EarthRise™, just like the coffin – this feeds the earth and improves biodiversity, meaning that your loved one’s ashes can be a source for nature to flourish within the woodland, meadow, orchard, garden or lawn area of any GreenAcres Living Memorial Park. The Loop EarthRise™ urns are available to purchase directly from GreenAcres Living Memorial Parks.

If you’re planning for yourself or a loved one, consider the environmental impact of each decision. From biodegradable coffins to woodland and wildflower meadow burials, every choice can make a difference. Together, we can honour our loved ones while preserving the beauty of our planet.

To learn more about our eco-friendly burial options visit GreenAcres Living Memorial Parks. To find out more on Loop Biotech and the Loop Living Cocoon™ and Loop EarthRise™, visit Loop Living Cocoon™ – World’s first living coffin. Let’s create a legacy that honours life and nurtures the earth.

For many, Mother’s Day represents a day of celebrations. But if you’ve lost your mum or mother-figure, or you are a mother who has lost a child, it can be a day filled with grief and sadness. Even the simplest things can remind us of the loved ones we’ve lost, which is why it’s important to take care of yourself as Mother’s Day approaches. We’ve collected together some advice to help you cope with this difficult time while you’re grieving for a lost loved one.   

Don’t feel pressured 

Families often make plans to celebrate Mother’s Day. However, you don’t need to feel pressured to join in with them. Family and friends may invite you along to stop you from feeling left out, but they will understand if you don’t feel up to it. It’s OK to say no and it’s OK not to be OK.  Instead, do things that you feel are right for you – like being close to nature and having a walk, watching a film, making your favourite food or listening to music that brings you happy memories or distracting yourself with your favourite hobbies.  

Write down how you’re feeling 

If you struggle to articulate how you feel, you could write your feelings down in a letter or card. Grief isn’t always an easy thing to make sense of, but giving yourself a chance to think about how you feel can help you cope with your grief – particularly when it’s more heightened around Mother’s Day.  

Share your loved ones memory 

Sharing memories of your loved one with family and friends is a wonderful way to honour them on Mother’s Day. You could get together over a cup of tea or start an online chat if you don’t feel up to seeing people. If you’ve turned your mum’s social media accounts into an online memorial, you can share tributes on there, too. There are also many online communities that bring comfort by sharing supportive messages on grief and loss, like Grief Speaks Out. 

Hold a memorial service 

You may take solace from holding a memorial service for your loved one on Mother’s Day. The service doesn’t have to be anything big. Simply lighting a candle or planting a beautiful plant are great ways to remember that special person.  

Get support at our monthly GreenAcres Bereavement Cafés 

When you lose someone you love meeting others who can relate to how you feel can help. We offer a kind, supportive space with understanding from others who are also living life after loss.  

Often it is difficult to walk through the door to somewhere new especially when you are grieving. We promise you a warm welcome from our experienced and compassionate team along with tea, coffee and cake. For more information, click here.

Join us for our Mother’s Day Remembrance event 

We invite you to our Mother’s Day event on Sunday 30th March at your local GreenAcres Park – a time to honour cherished memories, reflect, and remember those who are no longer with us. You will also have the opportunity to light a candle and tie a memorial heart on our Remembrance Tree

Find out more about our Mother’s Day event here.  

While it’s not something we generally talk about out loud, many of us hope to leave behind more than just memories after death. We want to be remembered – not just for what we did, but for who we were and how we made others feel. Whether through the life lessons we’ve shared or the heirlooms we’ve passed down to new generations, the idea of leaving a legacy means our story will live on in the hearts and minds of our loved ones.

You might be wondering how you can create a legacy that lives on long after you’ve gone. From choosing your final resting place to contributing to your community, this blog explores the steps you can take to create a lasting legacy that continues long after death.

Document your life’s story

Whether through a memoir, diary or even video recordings, documenting your life’s journey can inspire your loved ones and future generations – including even family members you won’t meet. By sharing your triumphs, challenges and the lessons you learned along the way, you not only keep your memory alive once you’ve gone, but you can also help others understand their place in your family’s history. Your story becomes a bridge between the past and the future, offering both comfort to those you leave behind and a connection between you and those who come long after you.  

Pass heirlooms down to your loved ones

Passing down heirlooms is a lovely way to preserve your legacy and keep your memory alive – especially if your loved ones had a particular fondness for some of your cherished belongings. Whether it’s a piece of jewellery, a treasured ornament collection, photographs, videos, recipes or a handwritten letter, the sentimental value of your heirlooms means these items become reminders of who you were and the things you loved when you were alive. They can also be passed on through the generations, connecting you to your family long after you’re gone.

Contribute to your community

Having a positive impact within your community can create a legacy that lasts for years after your death. No matter how big or small, things like volunteering, mentoring people who need guidance or supporting local causes ensure your name is associated with positive progress within your local area. Don’t forget to talk to your loved ones about all the good things you’ve done so they’re aware of your impact within the community. After all, they’re bound to want to shout about your achievements to anyone who’ll listen.

Pre-plan your funeral

Part of creating a legacy that lives on after you’ve gone is choosing how – and where – you’d like to be remembered. End-of-life planning helps ease the financial burden on your family and also allows you to get the funeral you want. It might feel strange to think about pre-planning your own send-off, but there are several benefits if you’d like to have control over the final part of your life. Read our guide to pre-planning a funeral to find out more. 

Choose your final resting place

Considering how you’d like to be remembered helps create a long-lasting legacy. Choosing your final resting place ahead of time comes with many benefits – for example, you can find a resting place that reflects who you are and serves as a meaningful tribute to your life, values and the memories you’ve shared with loved ones.

By choosing a GreenAcres Living Memorial Park, you’ll have comfort in knowing that your final resting place will be in the beauty of nature where your loved ones will want to visit time after time. You have the choice of peaceful woodlands, stunning wildflower meadows and relaxing, well-cared-for parkland. We’ve created different Park Experiences to give you more choice when looking for a memorial that serves as a special legacy for years to come.

Find out more about our five distinctive Park Experiences.

Final Resting Place