The company intends to manage the parks as a haven for wildlife and as a way of regenerating native woodland

Environmental ethos underpins burial park

May Gurney has commenced work on a £2m environmentally friendly woodland burial park at Gaynes Park in Essex for its customer Colney Memorial Parks.

May Gurney is one of two contractors selected to develop these woodland burial facilities at sites around the country for Colney Memorial Parks.

The company intends to manage the parks as a haven for wildlife and as a way of regenerating native woodland. The buildings will be as unobtrusive as possible and will promote the use of timber and other sustainable materials.

The design principles being adopted, which include an innovative reciprocal timber frame structure, look to maximise energy efficiency in keeping with the environmental ethos behind the venture.

May Gurney's appointment was made on the basis of a fully collaborative partnership, reflecting the company's growing reputation for delivery under this non-adversarial style of contract.

The communal buildings and associated infrastructure at Gaynes Park are based on a concept developed at Colney Memorial Parks' original facility on the outskirts of Norwich, which offers a natural alternative to conventional burial.

The project includes: the creation of a new access road and woodland pathways, an office building, a woodland hall and gathering hall, and associated security fencing and utility services. Work commenced in April 2007 and is scheduled for completion in January 2008.