The Garden of Remembrance is divided into the four seasons of the year. Cremated remains may be dispersed in any of the seasons, it is usual for the dispersals to take place in the season that the death occurred, however dispersals can happen in any season that the family wish. The Gardens are designed to be at their best during the season in which the death occurred.
Friends and family are welcome to attend the dispersal of their loved one, however if they do not wish to witness this, the office staff will be happy to carry out the dispersal on their behalf.
Staff at the cemetery and crematorium office are happy to discuss memorial options by appointment, please email memorials@bedford.gov.uk or ring (01234) 718150 to make an appointment.
Available memorials
Current available memorials for the Gardens are as follows:
- Rose plaques which can be situated in the herbaceous borders in any of the seasons, these are black metal stakes with gold inscription and can be used to mark the exact location of dispersed cremated remains.
- Barbican Tablets are situated on our Barbican stands in the Spring and Autumn Gardens. They come in two granite colours, Blue pearl for Spring and Emerald peal for Autumn.
- Grey Granite Vase Block and Tablets, located in the Winter Garden these are grey granite blocks which hold a vase and black granite tablet for inscription.
Other memorials that can be purchased for other areas of the memorial gardens and will not be located in the Gardens of Remembrance are:
- Bird box and Bat box’s which allow for dedicated inscription and can be placed on any agreed tree around our cemetery grounds.
- Memorial benches in a Polywood material that come in Teak and Mahogany along with a dedicated inscribed plaque and can be placed in any agreed location in our cemetery.
- Yorkstone boulders are a natural material memorial that can be placed beside a grave or in our Woodland section.
- Granite Mushrooms - located in our Blossom Garden, can be purchased as whole mushrooms with up to 5 plaques for dedication or as single plaques.
Read more about our memorials and the options available to you here.
View the map of the Gardens of Remembrance (PDF).
For more information or to arrange an appointment to view memorial options please contact us at: memorials@bedford.gov.uk or gardensofremembrance@bedford.gov.uk.
Dedicated area for Babies
Norse Road Garden of Remembrance also has a dedicated area for babies where dispersal of ashes can take place and an area for memorials which are situated on the far side of the gardens near the sanctums.
There are three styles of plaques to choose from. Heart Plaque, Train plaque or Teddy Bear Plaque. You can apply for any of these plaques below:
Interments and Dispersals of Cremated Remains
If you wish to have your loved ones' cremated remains placed loosely into any of the above gardens or a family grave, you will need to give us permission to disperse the ashes (PDF). The applicant for the cremation is the only person that can complete this form. Families can choose to be present if they wish.
If you choose to have a burial of ashes into either one of the vaults in our gardens or a family grave you will need to complete an Interment form (PDF).
View a list of our interment options below:
Sanctum 2000
The Sanctum 2000 is a free-standing granite vault, with a black granite cover that can be inscribed with gold or silver lettering. Families can choose to have ornamentation on the cover such as a photo plaques or inscribed pictures at an extra cost.
Each Sanctum can accommodate two sets of cremated remains which can be in an urn, casket or Polytainer provided by us. The cost of each Sanctum includes 80 letters, a flower vase, the first interment and the Exclusive Right of Burial for 75 years. Further charges will be incurred with the second interment and additional inscription.
Leaf vaults
Leaf Vaults are tall standing sandstone vaults that also accommodate two sets of cremated remains with a leaf shaped and detailed granite cover which can hold six lines of gold or silver inscription.
The cost of each leaf vault includes the first interment, vase, gold urn, and inscription with the Exclusive Rights of Burial for 75 years. Further charges may apply for additional inscription and second interment. Photo plaques and motifs can be added for an additional fee which will be quoted by the supplier.
Garden burial plot
These are burial plots which are situated behind the administrative building adjacent to the Garden of Remembrance. Each plot can accommodate up to three wooden caskets or bio-degradable urns (available at Norse Road) and are for the interment of cremated remains.
A memorial headstone may be purchased by a stonemason and placed on the plot providing the size is to the scale of the plot. Until the memorial is erected a wooden cross with a plaque is provided by us and placed on the plot. The cost of the garden burial plot includes the first interment and Exclusive Right of Burial for 75 years.
Apply for a Garden Burial Plot
Sanctums, Barbicans, Vase Block Tablets and Yorkstone boulders can carry photo plaques, photo frames and motifs for an additional fee, our Memorial Officer can provide more details on request.
For more information or to arrange an appointment to view memorial options, please contact us at: gardensofrest@bedford.gov.uk
Fees
You can find a list of fees for each memorial in our cemetery fees booklet.
