Thoulstone Park awaits council go-ahead for natural burial site
Located to the northwest of Warminster, the natural burial ground would be set within 70 acres for up to 2,000 graves across one hectare
The owners of Thoulstone Park, James and Alka Hughes-Hallett, have submitted a planning application to Wiltshire Council to create a natural burial area on its grounds.
The application is currently under consultation, with the council expecting the latest decision date to be on Friday 21 March 2025.
Located to the northwest of Warminster, the natural burial ground at Thoulstone Park would be set within 70 acres and offer “the greenest available option for dealing with human remains” for up to 2,000 graves across one hectare, with unmarked graves recorded by GPS.
News of the natural burial area comes as the Hughes-Halletts have been in the midst of a regeneration project on the land since it was abandoned for 10 years, following Thoulstone Park Golf Club’s closure in 2002.
Since taking over the site in 2012, the couple have submitted a number of applications to Wiltshire Council for schemes such as premises licence for events up to 499 people and a dog exercise field.
They have also facilitated the planting of approximately 25,000 trees, created wetlands such as a lake and pond, and transitioned to organic farming for parkland grazing.
This latest application would see one of the park’s grazed meadows be turned into “a peaceful, environmentally sensitive location for natural burials”.
The application reads: “Natural burial offers an eco-friendly alternative to the energy-intensive, carbon-emitting, air-polluting cremation process. This approach returns the carbon from the body, coffin, and lining directly to the earth, enhancing the carbon sequestration that naturally occurs in grassland meadows.”
According to the application, this project will only need minimal infrastructure additions such as a pedestrian gate, simple signage, and discreet memorial panels.
The site will also allow for both full burials, ashes interments, and for families to plant a native tree in memory of their relatives. However, scattering ashes will not be allowed to protect the grazing livestock and local flora.
The application adds: “A local custodian will greet visitors, provide guidance, and facilitate site tours, including the burial area and other facilities such as the range and the pavilion.”
In addition, the council received ecological information alongside the plans, which emphasise “returning the body to the earth using only biodegradable materials, ensuring no barriers to reintegration with the soil”. This “preserves the land’s natural state, fosters biodiversity and supports conservation goals”.