Clayton Wood Natural Burial Ground

Clayton Wood Natural Burial Ground Clayton Wood provides a beautiful setting for services in the Hassocks and Brighton area. Sitting

The grounds at Clayton Wood are looking absolutely stunning in the sunshine 🌿☀️Days like this really showcase the natura...
01/05/2026

The grounds at Clayton Wood are looking absolutely stunning in the sunshine 🌿☀️

Days like this really showcase the natural beauty and peaceful surroundings that make Clayton Wood such a special place. From the open countryside views to the carefully maintained lawns, every detail is designed to provide a tranquil and respectful setting for families to remember their loved ones.

Pictured here is our electric hearse buggy, which we use to gently and respectfully transport coffins to burial areas across the grounds. This quiet, eco-friendly vehicle is just one of the ways we combine thoughtful care with our commitment to the environment, helping to preserve the natural landscape that means so much to the families we support.

Every element of what we do, from the setting to the service is about creating meaningful, personal farewells in a place that feels calm, natural and reflective.

💭 When the time comes, what kind of place would feel right to celebrate your life or the life of someone you love?

29/04/2026

The central stream was dredged in the winter of 2024/25. As well as improving the movement of water through the site and preventing the margins from becoming seasonally saturated, the water in the stream is now a lot clearer and carries less silt into the main pond which has a direct improvement on all aquatic life and habitats.
The 5 acres of Clayton Meadows continues to be managed under a seasonal cut and collect regime to ensure the wildflowers and grasses can prosper and species diversity improves.
The grounds team continue to control the spread of horsetail (Equisetum spps) within the grassland areas by regularly mowing it.
A new layer of woodchip mulch has been laid beneath the large oak tree at the centre of the site. This encourages the growth of beneficial mycorrhizal fungi and helps to improve the health of the root zone.

29/04/2026

The meadows have a diverse range of species and structure, with a good mixture of grasses and herbs within the sward.
A total of 83 species of plant were recorded across the whole site in 2025. While this is lower than previous years (128 species in 2023 and 121 species in 2021), it is considered normal for species diversity to fluctuate in the initial years of habitat establishment, and a number of these species recorded previously were only in small amounts. Early colonising species in the initial stages may have been replaced by more competitive species or may have been transient or opportunistic colonisers. In addition, species presence and distribution may also fluctuate due to climatic changes, with the past few years having variable weather with either very wet or very dry summers, which may affect the flowering time and detection of some species. Across all survey years, a total of 183 species have been observed.

🌿 Congratulations to our newly qualified grave diggers! 🌿We’re delighted to congratulate four colleagues who have succes...
28/04/2026

🌿 Congratulations to our newly qualified grave diggers! 🌿

We’re delighted to congratulate four colleagues who have successfully completed their grave digging training -and all passed 🎉

It was fantastic to have team members from all four of our burial grounds working together and supporting one another throughout the training. A great example of teamwork and shared learning in action.

👏 Well done to:

Liam - Poole & Wimborne Woodland Burial Ground
Matt - Hinton Park Woodland Burial Ground
Chris - Clayton Wood Natural Burial Ground
James - Mayfields Woodland Burial Ground

A brilliant achievement and an important role carried out with skill, care and professionalism. Thank you all for your hard work and commitment 🌱

We are delighted to confirm the launch of our new Wildlife Walks at Clayton Wood.Our first walk will take place on Satur...
28/04/2026

We are delighted to confirm the launch of our new Wildlife Walks at Clayton Wood.

Our first walk will take place on Saturday 23rd May at 9:00am and will last approximately two hours. During the walk, we will explore the wonderful wildlife of Clayton Wood, including the animals, plants, and trees that are thriving at this special time of year.

There are 15 places available, allocated on a first come, first served basis. The cost is £10 per person, payable in advance to secure your place.

To reserve a place or for further details, please contact our office.

We are also pleased to share that we will be donating to the Sussex Wildlife Trust as part of these walks.

We look forward to welcoming you to our inaugural Wildlife Walk.

The daffodils are beginning to bloom across the grounds, bringing the first real signs that the seasons are changing. Af...
02/03/2026

The daffodils are beginning to bloom across the grounds, bringing the first real signs that the seasons are changing. After the quieter winter months, it’s always comforting to see new colour returning to the landscape.

We are pleased to share that a new ashes interment area is now available at Clayton Wood.This new area has been thoughtf...
27/02/2026

We are pleased to share that a new ashes interment area is now available at Clayton Wood.

This new area has been thoughtfully created in the centre of the grounds, nestled between the existing Spring Meads West areas, Clayton Meadows and, and running alongside the stream. The space has been developed in keeping with the surrounding landscape, offering a quiet and natural place for remembrance.

If you would like further information, please contact the office and we will be happy to assist.

We are currently planning to introduce evening wildlife walks at Clayton Wood, beginning in April.This will be the first...
24/02/2026

We are currently planning to introduce evening wildlife walks at Clayton Wood, beginning in April.

This will be the first time we have held walks like this, and we hope to make them a regular monthly event, exploring how the landscape and wildlife change throughout the seasons.

Some of the walks will focus on bats, giving visitors the opportunity to learn more about these fascinating nocturnal visitors as they emerge at dusk. Other months may explore the pond habitat and the variety of life it supports, along with the meadow, trees, birds and other seasonal wildlife across the grounds.

Before we confirm dates, we would love to know, is this something you would be interested in attending?
Please let us know in the comments. Your feedback will help us shape these events.

05/02/2026

Following the recent heavy rain, some areas of Clayton Wood are very muddy and slippery. Please ensure you wear appropriate footwear when visiting. Thank you and stay safe.

14/01/2026

We know many families choose to plant bulbs on plots as a meaningful tribute. Please be aware that wildlife is sometimes attracted to freshly planted bulbs, as they can be a valuable food source. This may occasionally result in bulbs being disturbed and small holes appearing in the soil.

Please be assured this is a natural occurrence and not the result of any action by our grounds team. The team will not remove any plants or bulbs that conform with our approved planting guide.

If you would like a copy of the planting guide or have any questions, please speak to a member of the team. We are happy to help!

Thank you for your understanding

08/01/2026

We’re pleased to let you know that our public toilets and reception area will be reopening this coming Friday, 9th January.

Thank you for your patience and understanding while these facilities have been closed. We look forward to welcoming you back and providing full access again.

If you have any questions in the meantime, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

05/01/2026

Visitor Notice

Please be aware that due to refurbishment, the reception area and public toilets will be closed this week.

If you have an appointment booked, please ring the doorbell outside the main reception door and a member of staff will come out to meet you.

There are also public toilets available at Tates Garden Centre, just north of our site, should you need them.

If you require any further information or assistance during your visit, please speak to a member of staff.

Thank you for your understanding.

Address

Brighton Road
Hassocks
BN69PD

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 9am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 9am - 4:30pm
Thursday 9am - 4:30pm
Friday 9am - 4:30pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm
Sunday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

+441273843842

Website

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