— About Us
Memotrees is owned and managed by husband and wife team, Carl and Karen Williams who live and work on site ensuring the meadows and memorial woodlands in our beautiful Cumbria are cared for all year round.
We are keen to ensure that our natural burial ground and memorial woodland remains true to its ethos and it is important to us that it can be enjoyed as a place of peace and quiet reflection at all times of the year.
— Our Story
The story behind Memotrees grew from a very personal loss. Karen’s father passed away following a long battle with Cancer back in 2013. Since marrying Carl she moved to Bridge End Farm and was no longer living very close to the traditional cemetery where she frequently visited the grave of her beloved Dad so sort the peace and tranquilly of the hillside over looking the river and meadow as a quiet place to sit and reflect alongside her loyal friend Sid, the Boxer dog. Karen and Carl decided to plant a tree in memory of Hughie and bought a bench which they located close by so Karen no longer had to sit on the wet grass. The location, tree and bench brought the couple so much comfort that together, following a conversation about their own families, mortality and funeral arrangements, the ideal of Memotrees was born.
— The Location
Memotrees’ River View Copse overlooks the South Tyne River on the outskirts of Alston, the highest market town in Britain, nestled quietly between the Lake District National Park and the North Pennines, an area of outstanding natural beauty, close to the Roman Wall and many other sites of significant interest and incredible scenery.
— Our Land
The Memotrees land is privately owned and belongs to the third generation family farm, with some of all three of the generations still living here so when visiting please don’t be surprised to come across children, pets and animals as it is very much a family environment close to where the allocated parking is. The copses and meadow which make up ‘Memotrees’ are situated a short walk from the main farmhouse and parking area. Appropriate footwear such as walking shoes, boots or Wellingtons should be worn. For the less mobile, we are happy to arrange transport using our 4 x 4 vehicle, by prior appointment, so walking is kept to a minimum but the footpaths throughout the grounds are constructed of rough stones so the land is still uneven. Please keep this in mind. The Memotrees land will never be anything other than a natural burial ground and woodland as it has been entrusted as such.
