Chestnut Lodge Pet Crematorium and Pet Cemetery

03/05/2026

Pet cremation through your vet: do you have to use their service?

Many pet owners assume that if their vet offers to arrange cremation, that is the only option available.

It isn’t.

Pet cremation through your vet: do you have to use their service?

You are entitled to contact a pet crematorium directly, ask questions, understand the service being offered, and make your own arrangements if you wish.

The Competition and Markets Authority has made clear that pet owners should be given information about their options, including arranging cremation directly with a crematorium.

We are grateful to the vets and local home euthanasia vets who continue to give families clear information about Chestnut Lodge and the choices available. That is exactly how we believe it should be.

Some owners may choose to arrange everything through their vet. Others may prefer to contact us directly. Others may choose another crematorium.

The important thing is that the decision should be informed.

Before agreeing to any cremation service, there are important questions you are entitled to ask.

We have written a guide to help pet owners understand their choices before deciding.

Your pet. Your choice. Always.

Explore pet cremation through a vet cremation service and understand the benefits and considerations involved in the process.

28/03/2026

Our canine friends are loving and faithful companions, but they are also incredibly gifted. From guide dogs and assistance dogs to search and rescue dogs, they do amazing work alongside dedicated handlers and volunteers.

We recently learned about the fantastic search and rescue dogs working with Surrey and Sussex Search and Rescue, helping to find missing people in our area. We knew nothing about this until our friend Jackie, who helps us here, told us about her involvement.
This weekend they are raising funds to support their vital work. If you would like to help, here is the fundraiser link shared on the Surrey Search and Rescue page: https://tinyurl.com/SurSAR100mile

If you cannot donate, please help by sharing this post on Facebook or Instagram. Most people probably do not realise that groups like this exist in our area.

Help Cathy Crummay raise money to support Surrey Search and Rescue

27/03/2026

For many pet owners, cremation is one of the most important decisions they will ever make for a much-loved companion.

The CMA’s recent veterinary report should lead to clearer choices and better price transparency, which is welcome. But price alone does not tell families everything they need to know. Terms like individual cremation and communal cremation can sound straightforward, yet the service behind them may vary significantly.

At Chestnut Lodge, we believe pet owners deserve clear, plain-English explanations so they can understand exactly what they are choosing for their pet.

We’ve written a short blog explaining what the CMA report means for pet owners, why service definition matters, and the questions families should feel able to ask.

Read more here:

See what the CMA’s vet report means for pet owners choosing cremation, why price alone is not enough, why clear service explanations matter.

17/02/2026

The sun is shining and everything feels much better after the torrential rain. The bulbs are coming up, our early rhododendron is in bloom and the first camellia is in flower. Let's hope this weather continues.

11/01/2026

Winter Weather and Cemetery Safety

At this time of year, rain, snow, and strong winds can affect how we carry out burials and how safely visitors can move around the cemetery.

After heavy rain, graves awaiting burial may fill with standing water, which must be removed before the service can go ahead.

We lay bark chippings on key paths to help with slippery ground — please use only these marked routes when visiting.

In strong winds or storm warnings, branches may fall in our wooded areas. For your safety, we strongly advise avoiding visits during high winds. In some cases, burials may need to be postponed for everyone’s safety.

We thank you for your understanding and patience. Every decision we make is guided by care — for your loved ones, and for you.

02/01/2026

A very Happy New Year to everyone. Snow covering this morning making the world look a little more beautiful- unless you have to work in it! Still, the bulbs are pushing up so spring can’t be too far away.
May 2026 bring you everything you hope for.

24/12/2025

However you are spending your Xmas holiday we wish you a very happy time and hope that you, your family and your pets stay healthy and well.
If you need us over the bank holidays then please just call and leave a message or email. Everything will be monitored and we can get back to you to arrange an appointment.
Once again, a very Happy Xmas to you all.

19/12/2025

The sun is shining today so, before Xmas Starts, here are a few
pictures of the Cemetery from earlier this year when it was warmer and the shrubs were flowering.

08/05/2025

VE Day: From Darkness to Light—And the Lessons We Must Not Forget

On VE Day, the lights came back on—not just in streets and homes, but in the hearts of a nation that had endured years of darkness, fear, and grief. The war had taken so much—from the families who lived through bombings and loss, to the animals who suffered in silence or served beside soldiers with unwavering loyalty.

At Chestnut Lodge, we remember not only the victory, but the trauma that came before it. The terrified pets left behind in evacuations. The loyal animals on the front lines. The families sheltering underground, or, in my mother's home, the cupboard under the stairs because she hated the shelters so much! It is hard for those of us who have not lived through such times to imagine it.

It was a hard-won peace.
Yet today, we watch with heavy hearts as new conflicts erupt across the world—reminders of how easily the lessons of war are forgotten.

As we honour those who suffered and sacrificed—human and animal—we also remember the hope of that day when the light returned.

May we remember it always.

Crematorium

31/03/2025

A visit to Leeds Castle in Kent and here are 3 gravestones for Lady Baillie’s dogs. Beautiful grounds with all the spring flowers out. Well worth coming to see.

28/02/2025

The sun shone this morning and it looks like spring is round the corner.

24/12/2024

Waking up to what looks like a beautiful Christmas Eve morning here at Chestnut Lodge. We will be here over the holiday period to help those who need us. Just leave a message or email and we will bet back to you as quickly as possible. Wishing everyone a Happy and Peaceful Christmas.