Holly Barrow at Dode

Many people that visit Dode and Holly Barrow often spot the Beehive sat by the pond and ask to it's relevance.

The hive is in fact a memorial to one of our past grooms, Ant, placed here many years ago and his wife Helen returns every year on their anniversary to place flowers and spend time remembering Ant and their time together.

You can read more about the Bee Hive and Ant's story here;
https://www.dodevillage.com/stories/ants-bees/

Many trees have now also been planted over the years here at Dode to remember loved ones.

Important to understand exactly what happens to loved ones ashes....This is easy to follow in plain and simple language. More to follow.

On today's blog, information about what to expect when cremated remains are returned to you.

Do please share - we know recent shocking news stories about funeral directors have created concerns, and we want to get facts and photos out into general circulation.

https://www.goodfuneralguide.co.uk/2024/05/but-what-about-the-ashes/

Lots of new followers recently thank you, here’s a bit about us.

As featured in the Telegraph, we are immensely proud to be able to share this next chapter of Dode with you all.

'Neolithic' burial site opens in Kent with space for 800 urns. A Stone Age-style long barrow has been built in the Lost Village of Dode and contains a columbarium where human remains can be stored.

Mr Chapman, the keeper of Dode, said there is no historical record of how Stone Age Britons would have marked death, but that he had no intention of holding funerals at Dode.

"Basically, this is a modern interpretation of a 5000-year-old barrow," Mr Chapman told The Telegraph.

"They won't be funerals. We've already started writing the ceremonies and they're going to be celebrations of life, they're not going to be miserable. It’s about celebrating people's lives and not mourning their passing," he said.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/04/02/neolithic-burial-site-opens-kent-space-800-urns/

If you are interested in finding out more or reserving a niche, please email us at [email protected] and arrange a personal visit.

We’re here for you.

'Neolithic' burial site opens in Kent with space for 800 urns A Stone Age-style long barrow has been built in the Lost Village of Dode and contains a columbarium where human remains can be stored

Walking and nature for grief - Cruse Bereavement Support Fresh air, walking and nature for grief - these can all be really helpful when you're bereaved. Find out how, & why, they can help you cope.

A lovely surprise to come down to this morning our little Robin who started her nest last year has laid her first little egg in one of the entrance niches to the barrow ❤️

Isn’t nature a glorious and wonderful thing….

We had a wonderful day exploring the enchanting Holly Barrow at Dode. It's nestled in a stunning location and offers a refreshing alternative for the interment of ashes. The restored stone church is captivating, providing a mystical setting for life's celebrations and ceremonies, with the added bonus of being pet friendly. Additionally, "The Retreat" on-site offers beautifully furnished accommodation that blends seamlessly with the natural surroundings.

We currently have four chambers inside Holly Barrow with available niches and Dogwood Chamber shown here is slightly different to the others.

Instead of stoned lined niches, in this chamber we have open hand forged niches creating a more open softer feel. Several spaces have been left for the option of custom forged niches should families wish to create a lasting legacy in rememberance of those loved ones.

We often get asked about options for sealing these niches and Darenth Valley Forge has created this wonderful piece of ‘art’ to delicately enclose the niches whilst still being able to see loved ones ❤️

“The real joy is not just the building of the barrow, which was an achievement itself in just nine months, but that we can offer the same services that Dode Church offered to people nearly 1,000 years ago: the three rites of passage, birth, marriage and death. And we can now offer ceremonies for all of those in a very nature-based/humanist approach. It’s back doing what it did 650 years ago – that for me is a joy.”

https://www.countryfile.com/news/a-neolithic-style-long-barrow-opens-for-memorials-in-the-remote-kent-countryside

BBC Countryfile Extra

A Neolithic-style long barrow opens for memorials in the remote Kent countryside You can choose a many-chambered long barrow in the North Downs countryside to be your final resting place, as the Village of Dode opens its new burial site

We've had several families visiting loved ones this weekend in the barrow, most often it will be a special birthday or an anniversary and for some it's just a case of wanting to be near their loved ones, maybe to talk to them about life, tell them what's been going on in the world and just to feel close to them.

That's really what Holly Barrow is all about. Giving people a space to come and visit and at the same time knowing your loved ones are safe and cared for.

Imagine a place, where history whispers in the wind and tranquility emanates from the ancient stones. A place embracing the echo of a thousand stories, a perfect repose for your loved ones' cremated ashes.

🌸Intertwine an element of serenity to your poignant moments at this final resting place. With love imbued into its very foundations, Holly Barrow offers a unique setting to honour those who have passed on, and find your own inner peace.

Let the passage of time here, steeped in history, guide you in making end-of-life decisions with grace and dignity.

Here, the ashes of your dearly departed will forever be part of a timeless legacy.

Find out more: https://www.dodevillage.com/holly-barrow/

Mother's Day affects us all in one way or another – often in messier ways than we'd like. Whether you're celebrating a wonderful mum, being celebrated, or struggling with complex feelings, we're thinking of you today 💙

Thanks to Sam Jayne Design for allowing us to share her beautiful illustration.

Barrows, an ancient tradition revived and made fit for todays society. They are the perfect final resting place for cremation ashes if you’re looking for:

🌿 A beautiful structure set in the countryside which encourages family and friends to visit
🌿 Sense of permanence
🌿 A spiritual space undefined by any religion
🌿 A sense of community

Choosing what to do with a loved one’s ashes is always tricky. However, in this day and age there is more choice than ever. Whether the ashes are scattered from a spitfire plane or in a firework, the choice of memorialisation is up to you.

One option that has become increasing popular is a modern take on ancient Long Barrow as a place to keep your loved one’s ashes.

Holly Barrow is just one of a small network of barrows/columbariums across the UK;
https://scattering-ashes.co.uk/ashes-barrows-uk-locations/

Ashes Barrow's - Ashes Storage - All the UK locations - Scattering Ashes Wish to keep ashes in a place of permanence, in a beautiful setting and a link to ancient traditions? Consider a Contemporary Ashes Barrow UK

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Thought this was a rather beautiful way of describing crying 🦌

"A sacred place for the interment of cremated ashes.
For people of all colours, creeds and orientation."

This is the concept behind the creation of this columbarium at Dode. It is a structure that contains niches or compartments designed to hold urns filled with ashes.

Our columbarium, Holly Barrow, is a place for families to visit and pay respects to their loved ones who have passed away. It provides a peaceful and serene environment for reflection and contemplation. The idea of inclusivity is at the core of Holly Barrow, as it welcomes people of all backgrounds and beliefs to come together to remember their loved ones.

It is a beautiful way to honour the memory of those who have left us, and to keep their spirit alive for generations to come.

To find out more or to download a brochure follow the link;

Holly Barrow - The Lost Village of Dode Holly Barrow

Thankyou Donna Ashworth

We agree, you don’t move on, we ‘move forward’ with our grief 🧡

In the beautiful valley, overlooked by the centuries, Dode provides an unparalleled place to celebrate the life of a loved one. Either within our ancient church or a small blessing within Holly Barrow you cannot help but feel closer to the mother earth.

Holly Barrow at Dode offers a beautiful and meaningful alternative approach to established crematoria, grave yards and natural burial grounds for your loved ones cremated ashes.

It is a place where people of all races, creeds and beliefs are welcome, a special place of understanding, tolerance and healing, it is already a place of literally thousands of individual stories.

There is a sense of warmth, history, complete sense of calm, respect and dignity which allow you to say farewell in peace and harmony.

Interments and memorials can be held on any day of the week and regular dates throughout the year you are welcome to visit and pay your respect to loved ones.

At Dode, you will always remember them because here, their spirit has been released into the care of Dode to be nurtured in this special place until the end of time.

You can download a brochure or contact us via the website:
https://www.dodevillage.com/holly-barrow/

Image credit: SHOT by JFK

When you’re bombarded with memories of the years before, it can be hard not to spend the day thinking of those who have died. If you’re facing Christmas after a bereavement, it might help to find some special ways to remember them.

Cruse Bereavement Support has some lovely ideas 👇

https://www.cruse.org.uk/understanding-grief/managing-grief/ways-to-remember-someone-at-christmas/

🎄💜

Did you know that across the UK around 250,000 sets of cremated remains, or ‘ashes’ remain in the storage of funeral directors which have not been claimed by their families...often because the deceased have no family left, or they are estranged.

So when Jo Williamson, owner and director of award-winning Albany Funerals based in Ashford and Maidstone visited earlier in the year Jo was struck by the particularly tranquil atmosphere there and we discussed the possibility of scattering some of our unclaimed ashes”. Doug Chapman, the Keeper of Dode, welcomed their suggestion. “I felt that the hallowed grounds of Dode would be a fitting resting place for the ashes of those six people, who, although unknown to me, deserved a final goodbye amid the glories of nature”.

On Monday, 13th November a special ceremony was held, crafted and led by celebrant Katherine Luxford Funeral Celebrant, where the ashes of 6 people (3 of which were from the same family) were scattered under the trees amongst the autumn leaves by Jo, and an apple tree was then planted in their memory by Becky.

The ceremony was held in the church and as part of the ceremony, candles were lit to remember each person, and these were later taken to the chapel of Holly Barrow, a columbarium built in the style of a neolithic long-barrow, where they were left burning.

The names of those laid to rest will be added to a beautiful memorial within the church which depicts the Tree of Life, and should any relatives come forward at a later time they will be able to visit the site to pay their own respects to their loved ones.

If you feel Holly Barrow could be a suitable final resting place for either a member of your family or yourself please do get in touch, we're here for you.

Photography: SHOT by JFK

The beautiful grounds surrounding Holly Barrow ❤️

Did you watch "Inside The Undertakers" with Stacey Dooley last night? Airing at 9pm on BBC1 it was an incredible behind the scenes look at the amazing work done by funeral directors.

It was so interesting to see how quickly Stacey started to think about the details she'd like for her own funeral. "Lots of flowers" she declared.

It’s really something that’s not often discussed openly with loved ones….what are you final wishes for that time in life? Would you want to be buried or cremated? Have your ashes scattered somewhere or stored…maybe in such a place as Holly Barrow so loved ones have a place to return to and feel close to you.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001s7r1

BBC One - Stacey Dooley: Inside the Undertakers Stacey tackles the subject of death by following a century-old funeral director's.

Just like things here at Holly Barrow….funerals, memorials and services don’t have to be traditional and bland!

Celebrate someone’s life!

Come along and join us for spooktacular Halloween trick or treat on 29th October 2023. The best Halloween costume will win an amazing hamper full of sweets.

So looking forward to seeing you all at 3pm.

Nestling comfortably within our ancient sacred site, Holly Barrow at Dode offers a beautiful and meaningful alternative approach to established crematoria, grave yards and natural burial grounds for your loved ones cremated ashes.

Dode Holly Barrow 2022 The wonderful 'Holly Barrow' at Dode For more information see https://www.dodevillage.com/

A columbarium offers an alternative to scattering ashes and keeping them at home. If you want to keep the ashes of a loved one after their death, but would rather not have them at home, storing them in a columbarium is a reasonable alternative.

Storing a cremation urn in a columbarium gives you a location where you can visit a loved one, pay your respects and know that their final resting place is being taken care of.

https://www.funeralguide.co.uk/blog/what-is-a-columbarium

Please contact us to find out more about places ashes here at Holly Barrow

What Is A Columbarium? | A Guide To Columbariums A guide to columbaria - what they are, where they’re found and everything else you need to know.

The gates to the Barrow….we have several gates here at Holly Barrow which have all been brilliantly designed and created by the very talented local blacksmith Rhys .

The internal chamber gates provide the protection of loved ones who have been interred to remain peacefully undisturbed for eternity.