A NATURAL family-run burial ground high up in the hills near Hundred House has won a prize at the National Cemetery of the Year Awards.

Hay Meadow Burial Ground, located in Glascwm, near Builth Wells, has been awarded the silver prize in the natural burial ground category of the national competition.

The competition is run by the Memorial Awareness Board (MAB) which has been promoting and organising the Cemetery of the Year Awards for nearly 20 years.

Hay Meadow Burial Ground opened in 2017 and is run by husband and wife team Richard and Sarah Vale, along with their three children.

The site offers both meadow and woodland burials. It is a unique, natural place to be buried, hidden in the heart of the Radnorshire hills in rural Mid Wales and in a secluded, peaceful location offset from a country lane. The Glas Brook flows through the valley beneath and Hay Meadow is surrounded by 7,000 acres of hills and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), which is home to a vast array of wildlife, heather and native fruits such as winberries.

Richard is delighted by the news, saying: “This award is such a wonderful pat on the back for my family, it acknowledges that we really go above and beyond to try and provide a reliable, friendly and quality service.

“My wife Sarah and I are thrilled to receive this award, as well as our three children who are all actively involved in helping families. This is a great achievement for our family and we are so pleased that Hay Meadow Burial Ground now has two awards.”

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The land at Hay Meadow is not consecrated and Richard and Sarah welcome any faith, religion or belief. Arrangements can also be made for graves to be blessed, making Hay Meadow suitable for everyone.

The idea for the burial ground originated not long after the family moved to Busnant Farm in 2007, when Richard’s mum died. She’d always wanted a natural burial and the idea began to gather speed in 2014.

The land continues to be farmed and grazed by the family’s flock of sheep, with the meadows providing a crop of hay each year for the sheep to feed on in the winter. Adjoining the meadow is Busnant Wood, which has been created following a native tree planting initiative.

Philip Potts, of the Memorial Awareness Board, said: “The awards are an excellent opportunity to reward hard-working staff and demonstrate the central role natural burial grounds can play in the community.

“They provide places of peaceful contemplation and beauty, as well as their ecological importance. Hay Meadow Burial Ground performed exceptionally throughout the extensive judging period which is focused on industry standards, environmental issues and good practice.”

For further information contact Richard or Sarah on 01982 570701 or visit their website at www.haymeadowburialground.co.uk or Facebook page Hay Meadow Burial Ground.