Nature’s Sanctuary is our award-winning green burial area at Laurel Hill West. Establishing a powerful connection between people, nature and community, Nature’s Sanctuary is planted with indigenous grasses, trees and shrubs and maintained as a successional forest. All graves are hand-dug for minimal environmental impact; no gas-powered equipment is used. Only biodegradable or environmentally friendly caskets, shrouds or urns are allowed. Nature’s Sanctuary is a regenerative landscape that offers families a tranquil environment and connection to the earth.

Accolades:

• Certified by the Green Burial Council 
• SITES Gold Certified — the first cemetery to ever achieve SITES Gold status
• Selected for a Merit Award from the ASLA in the General Design Category
• Awarded the Bowman’s Hill Land Ethics Award for Best Large Scale Project

Valley View Green, the newest green burial area at Laurel Hill East, is a peaceful quarter-acre of tall grasses and shrubs framing sweeping views of the cemetery’s historic monuments and expansive landscape. Valley View Green was created using repurposed materials, including a portion of the original fence that once surrounding Laurel Hill.  Only biodegradable or environmentally friendly caskets, shrouds, and urns are permitted in this section.

If you’re interested in learning more and exploring your pre-planning options, please take the time to complete a pre-planning form.

The Beauties and Benefits of Green Burial from Laurel Hill on Vimeo.