Award for burial park
KIM BRISCOE, Norwich Evening News 24
A woodland burial park on the outskirts of Norwich is celebrating a hat trick after winning an award for the third year running. Colney Woodland Burial Park retained its title as the nation’s top green burial site in the 2007 Cemetery of the Year Awards.
Staff say they are thrilled with the accolade, but are predicting competition from their newly-launched sister burial park in Epping at next year’s contest.
This year’s Cemetery of the Year ceremony, hosted by the Memorial Awareness Board (MAB), was held in Harrogate as part of the Institute for Cemetery and Crematorium Management’s (ICCM) annual conference.
The awards, now in their 10th year, aim to raise standards in burial grounds and encourage choice for the bereaved. It is a nationwide competition for cemeteries, crematoria, green and pet burial sites.
Cemeteries are judged according to a range of criteria including design, maintenance, facilities, the freedom of memorial choice and the improvement of site regulations.
All short-listed applicants were assessed during a site visit by the judges, of which they were not given advance warning.
Anne Beckett-Allen, of Colney Woodland Burial Park, said the park’s commitment to community involvement was always popular with the judges.
It holds events over the summer for children in Norwich to take part in.
She said: “We’re over the moon to have won again. There are lots of green burial sites around but what makes Colney special is that it is set in mature woodland.
“A lot of others are in fields and trees are planted when someone is buried so they will be lovely sites in years to come, but Colney is lovely now.”
Awards administrator Maria Jose Ovalle said: “Over the past 10 years, the awards have evolved in order to encompass the changing needs not only of the bereaved but also of those who work within the wider industry. We recognise that cemeteries and crematoria are not just a place of rest, but an essential part of every community.
“Beauty and accessibility are important elements, but we try to look beyond the aesthetics and focus on improving standards year after year.”
Despite three years as the best in the country, the staff at Colney are not resting on their laurels and are planning their next challenge - applying for a prestigious Queen’s Award.
The awards are only given out to the best businesses in the country for areas such as innovation and sustainable development.
Do you know of a business charity or organisation that has won a national award? Call reporter Kim Briscoe at the Evening News on 01603 772419 or email kim.briscoe@archant.co.uk