Carl joined us in May to take over the day-to-day operations of the site, working with families and coordinating funerals. When he first joined he gave an outline of his history and motivation in joining the organisation which you can read here: Carl's original profile.

We thought it might be interesting to get an update on his experience at Alne Wood Park now he’s been with us for Spring, Summer and Autumn. 

How have you found your first 6 months working at Alne Wood Park?

I have enjoyed my first 6 months at Alne Wood Park and learning about the requirements of the role. Firstly, being able to work with a friendly and helpful team has been a great part of induction, and I have been made to feel very welcome. I joined during a period when there was a lot of activity at the natural burial ground, and this was useful in being able to find out quite quickly about the job. After spending most of my working life either travelling, or in an office location many miles from home, it is great to finally be working only a few miles away.

What do you find most enjoyable/rewarding about the role?

Whether someone is recently bereaved, or considering pre-purchasing a plot it is always a privilege to meet visitors, show them the site and discuss whether it is right for them. As such, the most rewarding part of this role is when I meet people at the natural burial ground and we can offer something which may help them, at what may be a very difficult time. I hope that Alne Wood Park can, even in a small way, provide an alternative option, that reassures family members they have found the right place for their relative’s burial. 

Is there anything you’ve learned that has surprised you? 

I have been surprised to find out how much interest there is in natural burial grounds, and the alternative that this offers to the more traditional option. When I joined, I was not very familiar with the concept. Like many others who visit though, once I understood it fully and realised its benefits, then it became an obvious choice. So much so that I now have a plot reserved for myself at Alne Wood Park. 
Is there anything you particularly like about the site? 

As a place to work, I feel that Alne Wood Park is hard to beat! Since joining I have seen the site change quite significantly from when I joined. At that time there was an abundance of wildflowers and long grasses. Over the months the flowers that were blossoming changed, and within the past couple of weeks the whole site has had its annual mow and now looks much different. Now that Autumn has arrived, the surrounding forest is full of a range of colours and shades, which makes a particularly nice backdrop to my “office”.

We’d like to thank Carl for taking time to provide an update, it has been a real pleasure welcoming him to the team and look forward to continuing to develop the site and what we offer.