A Northwich crematorium has scooped a top award after just two years of being in business.
Staff at the Birches Remembrance Park and Crematorium are celebrating after being named 'Crematorium of the Year' at the Good Funeral Awards on September 24.
The crematorium, in Birches Lane, Lach Dennis, was chosen from among 300 other eligible funeral business across the UK by industry professionals and members of the public.
Delighted general manager Ange Dunn believes Birches stands out for being 'more than just a room for hire'.
She said: "It was amazing. We didn’t expect to win, being so new.
“What distinguishes us from other crematoria is that we are trying to be more than a place that is just a room to hire for forty-five minutes or an hour.
“We provide tea and coffee for people arriving at the funeral, and if they want, they can have an hour in the garden afterward.
“We try to look after all of our families - we treat them as individuals, and help them to plan how they want the chapel to look.”
Birches is both family and pet-friendly, and provides a private room which can be used for children, or those who want to be nearby but do not wish to attend the service.
It's hall of remembrance and landscaped grounds can be booked for memorial services, and funeral and memorial services can be webcast for those unable to attend.
The awarding body - the Association of Green Funeral Directors - help members of the public find funeral homes which provide more sustainable and eco-friendly options.
They also encourage funeral directors to become greener minded in all aspects of their work and help bring natural funerals into the mainstream.
Head gardener at Birches, Natalie Angus, who is also BBC Radio Stoke’s resident gardening expert, said: “We are trying offset the carbon we produce by making the site a carbon sink.
“We have got two and a half acres of meadow, and we are aiming for high biodiversity as we want to create somewhere that is an oasis for nature.”
The award is dedicated to all those the staff have been privileged to care for since their opening in 2020.
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