Sign up for bereavement support at Bristol Memorial Woodlands
Anyone needing help in dealing with the death of a loved one is being encouraged to come forward and access support available at Bristol Memorial Woodlands.
The latest programme of bereavement support at the woodlands is now being finalised and grieving loved ones can take up free informal or more formal support at the venue in Alveston, near Thornbury.
Launching soon, the provision will include a regular bereavement group meeting weekly for around seven sessions and run by experienced professional counsellors, who are coming together as a team now.
There will also be a new bereavement walking route at the picturesque site, aimed at providing a scenic and peaceful route around the meadows and glades and allowing time for reflection. Memorial walks will be organised monthly and supported by trained bereavement professionals and volunteers.
The bereavement support will be run in partnership with Mireille Hayden of Gentle Dusk who is currently recruiting counsellors and developing the offering.
Mireille said: “We are so excited to be launching more support services at Bristol Memorial Woodlands.
“The provision, which will be open to anyone trying to adapt to loss and grief in the greater Bristol area, comes after reports of an increase in demand for services.
“We really wanted to find a way to bring people together and provide much needed support for anyone going through a hard time.
“We are putting the finishing touches to planning now and are welcoming interested attendees to sign up to be the first to hear about the upcoming free activities.”
Bristol Memorial Woodlands is a 100-acre cemetery offering environmentally-friendly woodland burials where trees and wild flowers are planted around plots to create a nature reserve for future generations. Also encompassing a chapel and reception rooms, the site, the land and grounds are all managed by a charitable trust and it provides families with a location for unhurried, bespoke funerals for loved ones.
Mireille continued: “We are hearing from professionals and charitable groups that demand for bereavement support is increasing but that there is not enough provision and often people aren’t reaching out for help.
“We wanted to make our offering as accessible as possible so we’re planning some support sessions, which will be more structured and focussed as well as some informal walks which will be more of an opportunity for peer support.
“Bristol Memorial Woodlands is a stunning venue and even just being out in nature, among people who know what you are going through, can be a welcome source of comfort.”
For more information about the bereavement support services at Bristol Memorial Woodlands contact Sophie@gentledusk.org.uk
For more information about the site visit www.memorialwoodlands.com
