Grave Digging Specification
The location of the grave, as defined by dimensions provided by Native Woodland at
least 48 hours before the funeral. You must recognise no other authority in this regard.
If there is any doubt over grave location you must call NW before proceeding.
Excavations

The grave must be excavated between 4 and 24 hours before the funeral,
depending on weather conditions.

Locate the grave using the triangulation measurements provided in the Burial
Notice. This position marks the mid-point of the head of the grave.

Place a tarpaulin or rigid sheets (~6sqm) a minimum distance of 1m to one side
of the grave.

Carefully lift the turf and topsoil and place to one side.

Excavate as neatly as possible 150mm (6”) wider and longer than the coffin
dimensions to a depth of 1.3m, depositing spoil in a neat mound on the adjacent
sheets.

Shore the excavations in loose soils.

Trim any exposed roots in the walls of the grave.

Cover the base of the grave with leaves, hay or bracken.

Place 100mm x 50mm x 1500mm long timber ground plates across the head and
foot of the excavated grave.

Lay 300mm x 50mm x 2400mm long planks over the open grave, ready to be
flipped over or slid aside to provide safe standing each side of the grave for the
bearers.

Provide two 100mm x 50mm x 1200mm bearers, to span the grave between the
planks for bearers to rest the coffin on, before lowering it into the grave.

If wet weather is forecast, cover the excavated grave with a waterproof sheet to
shed the rain. Visit the grave one hour before the funeral and bail out any
standing water from the grave.
Backfilling:

After the end of the funeral the grave should be covered by moving the planks
from the side to cover the open grave.

The grave must not be backfilled until all mourners have left the site.

The grave must be backfilled within 3 hours of the funeral having ended.

Carefully remove any shoring and store the shores, planks, bearers and plates.

Replace all spoil, compacting first the soil around the coffin by hand and then in
150mm compacted layers the final layer being topsoil.

Replace the turf on top of the topsoil, leaving slightly proud of the surrounding
areas.

Remove surplus soil to the excess soil tip located on site.

Remove the tarpaulin and ground sheets.

Reinstate any digger tracks and stabiliser imprints.

Revisit the grave after the first, second and sixth month after the burial to
address any settlement that occurs to maintain the turf at the same level as the
surrounding areas.