Have you decided what will happen to your earthly remains when your soul leaves this planet? Maybe some of you will think this morbid but it’s one thing that’s a definite for every living thing on this planet. We will all leave…sooner or later.
I have always thought that I would like to lie under a nice tree and fertilise it’s growth.
Today while flicking through Facebook I came across this poem. I think it’s brilliant.
WOODLAND BURIAL by Pam Ayres.
Don’t lay me down in some gloomy churchyard shaded by a wall
Where the dust of ancient bones has spread dryness over all.
Lay me in some leafy loam where, sheltered from the cold
Little seeds investigate and tender leaves unfold.
There kindly and affectionately plant a native tree
To grow resplendent before God and hold some part of me.
The roots will not disturb me as they wend their peaceful way
To build the fine and bountiful, from closure and decay.
To seek their small requirements so that when their work is done
I’ll be tall and standing strongly in the beauty of the Sun.
In light of our governments plan to sell of our forests to pay for the debts of the banks which have been foisted on the Irish people maybe we should pledge our bodies to growing new forests for the people of Ireland. No! I jest you not, selling the Irish forests, which belong to the people of Ireland is currently being seen as a viable proposition to pay the fat cat bankers as demanded by the IMF( International Monetary Fund).
To me it’s too much of a coincidence that this comes as our new friends in China want more beef and the EU drop milk quotas in the near future. Lots of land wanted for all this production. A sacrifice too far methinks.
Why not try and do something to stop this. In the UK a similar plan was abandoned because of public outcry. Lobby your local TDs and other so called public representatives. Get out there and use OUR woodlands…while they’re still there. Take your friends and children…they will love it. If you would like to join with others take a look at www.bardsinthewoods.com . Wonderful walks, poems and picnics in beautiful places.
Our woodlands need us now…and into the future too.
Bridget x
There is an online petition which goes to the President, Michael D Higgins and the Irish Government. Please sign and share. http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/help-save-irelands-forestry/ .
fromacountrycottage 
We have our preivious cats’ ashes,we will mix them with the ashes of the cats we have now,which will then be mixed with ours and scattered under a tree…we will repay the earth for what it has given us,and all become one.
Jane x
Perfect! x
Reblogged this on Hawthorn Rising.
Since we moved to this cottage we have planted around 50 trees, we then became aware of a scheme One million trees in a day.ie we applied for a futher 25 trees which are to to planted on the 23rd March. In time we will have our own small forest of native trees.
With regard to having my final resting place in a woodland I have tried to find out if Green Burials are allowed in Ireland as in the UK but no one seems to know, maybe you do?
The way it seems to be done in Ireland is to have the remains cremated and then do as you wish with the ashes. To actually bury a body outside of regular graveyards seems to require permission from the Council and not so easy. Personally I will go down the cremation route.
Bridget x.
After a lot of deliberation, my brother and I opted to put our mum and dad’s ashes in the wooded area close to her family graveyard – a very rural place. Best decision ever – it feels entirely right and I hope my children will put me there too when the time comes.
What a lovely poem and an eloquent call to action! The woodlands are worth saving, if you can. It is so sad to see those with dollar signs for eyes and no sight to the future making decisions that will affect all of us, our children and grandchildren. Good luck, Bridget!
http://blog.atcasa.corriere.it/community-garden/2012/02/01/bios-urn-lurna-funeraria-biodegradabile-per-rinascere-albero/
but cremation need to burn wood?
It does indeed but unless it’s a registered burial ground one just can’t bury a body wherever one chooses…in Ireland anyway. A new tree can be planted over the cremated remains.
Bridget x.
My mum’s cat (version 1 – 12) over a period of 40 years has ensured fantastic roses. I visited a cemetery in the UK last summer, which had plaques and trees instead of headstones. However, most of the young trees were dead – through neglect I think. A great idea if it is worked at. Lovely poem from Pam Ayres.
Ah! I am so glad you are back; I have been coming to your old blog and was getting disappointed. But, the above news made more disappointed. I am getting amazed by the behaviors of all these so called democratic governments who claim to represent people. What bollock! This selling of forests is not acceptable. I hope it will not happen. What’s the meaning of EU milk quota?
Hi! Thanks for visiting our new place, hope you like it. EU milk quota is the amount of milk farmers are allowed to sell. Each farmer has a set quota. This is shortly to be dispensed with so they can produce as much as they want.
Hope you are well.
Bridget.
Is there a petition to save your forests, as forests, for the Irish people?
Yes, there is Diana. Thanks for your interest. I have added the petition address to the end of the post.
Bridget x.
What a terrible plan and so short sighted! I hope that you and the rest of Ireland are successful with defeating it.
Don’t let them sell your forest. There has to be other and more sensible ways to deal with the situation. We all need some wild places to keep things in balance and forests are a very important part.
Hopefully the powers that be will realise this and disaster shall be averted. Hoping!
I’ve decided to follow my grandmother’s footsteps after death: she donated her body to the local university, and her remains were cremated and used to give life to a baby willow tree in Graves Park 🙂
I truly hope this silly forest selling business gets swept under the rug, it’s absolutely and utterly absurd… please post links (the one you provided is outdated) or ideas for us to help!
This is being discussed in the Irish parliament next week so hopefully sense will prevail. Until then we just go and use the forests.
a thought-filled post….I hope y’all can stop the selling of the forest, here in America we have so few left and I do believe our government will start to see their green as the money green to fill their pockets… I have a little 2.5 acres that is my sacred space, I keep it as natural as possible for the wildlife,
I will be cremated …I lost both my sisters this past one in June and the oldest in September, it has taken a toll on my mom, I stay with her and do what I can…
she would like to lay down by a tree and just sleep forever, I liked your thoughts on that too…I watched a documentary on an island somewhere(too many years since i’ve seen it) about their people being cremated, the were each then returned to the ground and a rose was planted…I liked that ideal alot
Thank you for a another interesting post…I would sign your petition, but wasn’t sure if Americans could….
I will check out your other link you shared….
Take Care…You Matter…
)0(
maryrose
Hadn’t seen this post, Bridget, but signed the petition alright. Did ye ever hear of a campaign to get folk to identify the site of their own “Millennium Tree”, which the Dail gave every house-owning citizen, planted up in designated woodlands…would they have the right to stop the felling of their tree? En Masse? Hmmmm x