Store: The Oaks Crematorium

Prior to the opening of The Southern Co-operative’s new crematorium, The Oaks in Havant (12 December), over 150 funeral directors, clergy and celebrants were given an insight into the state-of-the-art building to familiarise themselves with the new facility.

Previously, the nearest crematorium for residents of south east Hampshire has been at either Porchester or Chichester. The Oaks can accommodate up to 200 people for a funeral, with seating for 86 in the service hall, which has views through 6 metre high windows, from floor to ceiling, over a private planted courtyard and onto the ancient woodland beyond. Built to the highest environmental standards, the facility employs the latest techniques in cremation and clean technology to prevent pollution to the air and surrounding environment. Low level energy efficient lighting also minimises light pollution from the site.

From its conception, The Southern Co-operative has been working with Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust to protect and enhance the environment and wildlife in the grounds. Roddy McGinley, The Southern Co-operative’s Crematorium and Cemeteries Manager, explained: “The Oaks has been designed sensitively to complement the surrounding wildflower meadow and ancient woodland in which it sits, which in turn creates a tranquil environment for the bereaved who are visiting.”

Roddy added: “We accommodate traditional religious or secular funeral services here for any culture and ethnicity as well as any other alternative forms of farewell, making it a celebration of a life well lived, rather than the death that has just occurred.” Funeral services are planned to last up to 45 minutes, which is 15 minutes longer than the local area has been used to. Service times are available Monday to Friday and Saturday mornings, and include Bank Holidays except for Christmas and New Year’s Day.

Bereaved families can choose music from an almost infinite music library via the Wesley media service or a digital organ or piano for more traditional services. Visual life tributes of video, photos and music can also be played on multimedia screens. Family and friends in the UK or anywhere abroad who can’t make the funeral can still view the service via a securely transmitted web cast. All of these audio visual services can also be recorded.

Celebrant Malcolm Chewter said: “My first impressions are that it is an absolutely lovely venue for a funeral; it feels welcoming and warm. The space is welcome for all cultures, the symbolism here is the oak tree and I like that idea.”

Reverend Nigel Bennett from St Judes Church in Southsea added: “The Oaks has been very well thought out, it is a lovely environment. Once it becomes better known, people might prefer to come here as it is so pleasant. The oversize cremator will, I’m sure, be useful.”  The Oaks can accommodate cremations of much larger people, which is increasingly required, and up until now have had to be held out of the area.

Petersfield Funeral Director, Michael Miller, said: “The chapel was very well presented and I’m impressed that so many mourners can be accommodated. The photo screen is a good idea and I like the way the organ and staff area is open and not hidden from mourners. The flower area is a good size for mourners to view floral tributes. The staff were very helpful and friendly. In general I thought the crematorium is very well laid out.”

Bill Stillwell, Methodist minister for Copnor, Havant and Bedhampton, who attended The Oaks open evening with Pam Stone, a pastoral worker for the Methodist Church, said: “We like the fact that the service hall is light and airy, and that visitors can look out and see Mother Nature, also that they can walk through the woodland glade and think their own thoughts; it is very peaceful. The memorial logs and orbs along the path are a super idea; it gives people somewhere to focus on.” Within the wood in the grounds is a natural pond that provides sanctuary for the locally very rare heathland species, Floating Clubrush (Eleogiton fluitans).

Roddy added: “We understand not everyone has attended a funeral, therefore to some a crematorium may feel a strange or an uncomfortable place. If you would like to visit and have a look around, or ask any questions of the team, then you are more than welcome. I am always pleased to personally answer any questions you may have so please feel free to call me on 023 9222 2648.” You can also find out more at www.havantcrematorium.co.uk

Led by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, a team of twelve volunteers from The Southern Co-operative’s End of Life Services set about clearing the area surrounding a natural pond in the grounds of The Oaks, Havant Crematorium this autumn.

Surrounding and within the extensive grounds of the crematorium in south east Hampshire is ancient semi-natural woodland, designated as a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC).  The shaded naturally draining pond in the grounds provides sanctuary for the locally very rare heathland species, Floating Clubrush (Eleogiton fluitans).  This is only the fourth known location for this species in south east Hampshire. The Clubrush forms roots on the pond bed when the pond is dry and when the pond naturally fills with rainwater,  its roots detach and it ‘floats’ on the top of the water, re-attaching its roots when the pond naturally dries out again.

The Southern Co-operative’s Head of Sustainability, Gemma Lacey, who organised the volunteering, has been working with corporate partner HIWWT over the past six months to maximise the benefit to wildlife around the new crematorium site, which in turn will create a tranquil setting for visitors.

Gemma said; “The team worked very hard and achieved a huge amount in one day. clearing rubble and fallen branches around the pond, creating wood pile habitats to encourage wildlife,  planting the bank with woodland flower bulbs and marginal plants including flag iris around the pond. We also built a wheelchair accessible wooden bridge to improve access to the area, and plan to return in the spring to put up bird and bat boxes.”

The Trust’s Assistant Ecologist, Ruth Kernohan, who led the volunteering group, said: “It was a rewarding day with the hard working Southern Co-operative team.  As Floating Clubrush can be overtaken by more vigorous growing species, we managed to open up access to the site whilst crucially maintaining its habitat.  People visiting the Crematorium will now also be able to enjoy this peaceful area.”

The Oaks crematorium itself has been built to the highest environmental standards, employing the latest techniques in cremation and clean technology to prevent pollution to the air and surrounding environment. The building also uses level energy efficient lighting to minimise light pollution and a green sedum living roof provides additional habitat for wildlife.

Volunteering days are popular with The Southern Co-operative’s colleagues, who are encouraged to volunteer for good causes in work time as part of their community spirited and co-operative ethos. In the past year, teams from its food retail stores and funeral homes have helped HIWWT with hazel coppicing at Pamber Forest near Basingstoke and scrub clearance at Arreton Down on the Isle of Wight, and joined corporate partners Dorset Wildlife Trust to build nesting grounds for terns in the lagoon surrounding Brownsea Island and Sussex Wildlife Trust to clear scrub at Levin Down.