This is definitely not advertising (!) and I don't wish to introduce a gloomy note, but I couldn't resist the chance to tell you about Tarn Moor Memorial Woodland, a green burial ground in a beautiful setting between Skipton and Grassington. Just by chance I found myself there yesterday and met the manager and funeral director, Wendy Pratt. We had a great chat about what they are doing--apparently it's one of only two places in the country where people can actually be buried next to their pets. How lovely that someone has had the heart and soul to be doing this, and full marks to the Tarn Moor estate for supporting Wendy.

how lovely. I visited a woodland buriel ground nr bournemouth so while ago so beautiful and peaceful and liked the principles. Never thought about allowing animals to be buried alongside although now you mention Tarn I wonder if that happens to be the other one.

There are a few where pets can be buried as well, but not with people. The only other one is in Devon somewhere.

I believe there is one in Licolnshire.

I wonder why not it seems logical to me. My pets are in their caskets and I want them with me not that I have any plans for a good few decades yet lol

>My pets are in their caskets and I want them with me

Make sure someone knows to sneak them into your box with you. :-)

Lol I will have quiet word in someones ear ! Gosh it could become quite crowded in there with all the animals and me

Make sure someone knows to sneak them into your box with you.

and for some of us that box will have to be the size of a sea freight crate :) standing room only

I have an area of SSSI woodland and my Uncle Jim's (ashes) are down there with his dogs and thats where I am off.

Jim loved my woods and walked there twice a day every day so I always said he should be put there when my Aunt asked I agreed, the dogs and I will be happy in the woods near the pond with the trees rustling. I would have to get a licence to bury (coffins) there but our ashes will do nicely and I will haunt my son if he sells our remain's! :-o

My daughter in law had a "green"funeral last year in Sheffield.My son found a specialist funeral director who only deals with environmental burials.Some of the family had serious misgivings about cardboard coffin etc,but in the end every one was very impressed with lovely rural woodland setting,very dignified and very peaceful.We can plant a memorial tree after a year.Instead of flowers she had donations to a local animal shelter.Everyone has their own way of doing things.I was once asked by a grooming client if she could name me in her will to be responsible for having her dog put to sleep when she died, as she did not want anyone else to have it,she was sure it would not be happy without her.I don"t think I could have done it,the dog was not even elderly.Another client who had a very elderly dog instructed her executors that the dog should be put to sleep and put at her feet in her coffin,I doubt that it would have been allowed,furtunately she outlived the poor old dog anyway.My friend who looked after her mums old dog after she died,decided when the dog died to bury the ashes on her mums grave to reunite them,it seemed appropriate to me.I have outlived so many much loved pets,but moved about the country a lot,so have no graves or ashes,but I do have lots of happy memories which will always be with me.I have to put my dogs in my will,so that my family will not fight over who gets them,when I am gone!!

I know its an added problem when you get older these two are possibly our last pups as they should last us a few years, then maybe rescue dogs if we do outlive them, but to be honest it even upsets me to think about it.
Whistler would go with Sam he adores him and Jake with Ben but possibly splitting them would not be a good thing, Oh well I may go over 100 and have time for plenty more pups Im only in my 50's now!! silly but you do have to think about things.

Just saw youir post whistler. Omg please don't say that at our age we are on our last dogs I think I am similar in age to you as muh as want my dogs to live forever I do hope that I wil be able to have dogs with me for a long time yet. Mind that is one reason for new pup can't do all I want to if I only have one at a time so number three will be joining us soon

Im 61 and reckon these will be my last pups,its also restricting my desire for a third dog at some point-2 would be easier to integrate with my kids,if the worst should happen.Mind you,Ive promised to take on my friends 2 if he should croak before me,so who knows?It is a worry,when you live alone,my parents died when younger than me,too,almost feel like Im on borrowed time!Not that Im morbid or anything - -

Oh no colliepam I'm sure you have got years yet :)

Attended a humanist burial at a local green burial ground last summer and the lady was buried with her pets ashes in the same casket made of willow. Very beautify place and a memorable occasion rather than a memorial.

I'm 54 now. My mother is 78 and doesn't want a dog for this reason, but also the snows where she lives in NY mean that small dogs can find it a bit hard to get out :) (Mr Finnegan my brother's Bichon flatly refused to entertain snow drifts even when the driveway was cleared).

My grandmother was the baby of her family when she died at 98--her sister carried on working (as a historian, what else?) till she was over 100 and died at 106. Both of them went very peacefully and without warning.

I'd like to think I've got almost half my life still to spend with dogs, but if not I hope I never spend a day without them around me.

They say old age is a state of mind and the trick is to stop it seeping into the rest of your body.I do believe that once you start thinking your too old for this or that you age rapidly.The dogs help keep me active,out walking etc,and in my head I am only 21 anyway,so never think about not having them around,and I am the wrong side of 70!

Most of my work has been with people over 50 and I can 100% say there is NO doubt age is a state of mind and not the number of years behind you.
I always say that any one who is over 50 and proudly tells how old they are is old.

My favourite GP was treating me in his 80s and I loved him and trusted him implicitly.

Karen :)

Phew Ive been going backwards with each birthday for the last 5 years must be well into my early 40's by now ! Never tell anyone my age fortunately the kids at school usually settle for about 35 ish thats fine by me after all when you are 14 35 is ancient !