Serenity Ridge Rules & Regulations
Serenity Ridge Natural Burial Cemetery & Nature Preserve & Arboretum Rules & Regulations
We invite you to our natural burial cemetery to both celebrate life and find peace in nature. Our property is maintained and managed to increase the biodiversity of native species of both plant and animal life.
- The cemetery is open to visitors daily from 9:00AM-5:00PM.
- Meetings for site selections are made by appointment only. Please complete this form and a Team Member will contact you by your preferred communications method
- Serenity Ridge is a natural burial cemetery. Our practices and policies follow the guidelines set forth by the Green Burial Council (GBC).
- Visitors must not disturb wildlife or other visitors to the park. We ask that personal devices, such as mobile phones, be turned off or put on Silent within the burial grounds to preserve the peace and tranquility of the area.
- Dogs must always remain on a leash and under your control. Pet owners are responsible for the clean-up and off-site removal of waste and for ensuring that dogs do not create a disturbance to other visitors or to the grounds.
- Planting of flowers, decorative plants, shrubs and trees on the grave site or within the cemetery is not permitted. If you would like to contribute to volunteer wildflower and tree planting events, please contact us for more information.
- When visiting Serenity Ridge, please be mindful of the natural and emerging ground cover on recent burials.
- Serenity Ridge will not be responsible for any injury, death, or damage to personal property that may occur due to either proper use or intentional misuse of its property. Serenity Ridge will not be held responsible for stolen property, vandalism, or damage resulting from acts beyond its reasonable control.
- As the grounds are a nature preserve, visitors assume all risks associated with potential hazards that may be found there. These include but are not limited to slip, trip and fall hazards, uneven terrain and paths, holes, wet grass, low or fallen tree branches, falling and fallen trees etc. Wildlife may be present. People may have allergic reactions to some plants or animal life.
- Alcohol and illegal drug use on Serenity Ridge property is strictly prohibited.
- Firearms and weapons are strictly prohibited.
- No vehicles such as motorcycles, bicycles, motorbikes, scooters, rollerblades, etc. will be allowed on the property. The exception will be motorized wheelchairs for the disabled.
- For those that need assistance getting to and from the grave, please inform Serenity Ridge management for accommodations.
Serenity Ridge Burial Regulations
- Interments are scheduled between 10 AM – 2:30 PM daily and require 48 hours notice.
- If for any reason an interment cannot be scheduled during the regular time frame, Serenity Ridge management will confirm whether we can accommodate the requested interment time.
- Burials on holidays (e.g. New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas) will require advanced notice of at least three full business days.
- No body shall be buried unless the death has been registered and the proper documentation is supplied to Serenity Ridge.
- Toxic chemicals such as formaldehyde are not allowed.
- No cremated remains shall be buried unless a certificate of cremation is supplied to Serenity Ridge.
- All necessary interment forms are to be signed by the next of kin or an authorized agent prior to any interment.
- All cemetery charges and fees must to be paid in full before an interment can occur.
Caskets & Coverings
- Caskets and baskets must be made from naturally biodegradable materials approved by Serenity Ridge in accordance with GBC guidelines (pine, bamboo, wicker, unfinished woods, etc).
- A fabric burial shroud may be used providing it has been made of naturally biodegradable materials. Preferably you will choose a shroud with an incorporated board that is needed for a stable burial. Shroud boards can be purchased from Serenity Ridge.
- Cremated remains, must be in a biodegradable urn, in a biodegradable bag, no larger than 10”x10”x10”.
- Non-organic materials, such as metal, jewelry, plastic, concrete, or synthetic materials are not permitted to be buried or placed in the Cemetery.
- Plastic flowers or arrangements, vases, photographs, manmade or manufactured items may not be left on a gravesite or cemetery property.
Memorial Markers
- Headstone markers purchased through Serenity Ridge will be made of locally sourced fieldstone. Typically they have the name and birth and death dates. See the current price list for cost. Requests for additional text are subject to management approval. A fee for additional text is due prior to inscription. Markers may be purchased from other vendors but are subject to approval by Serenity Ridge.
- Serenity Ridge is being managed to encourage the preservation and reinvigoration of the natural landscape. Therefore, the erection of monuments, fences, decorative stones upon burial sites are not allowed.
Get in touch
Phone
240-NATURAL
(240-628-8725)
Text
240-628-8725
Cemetery Location
2406 Ridge Road
Windsor Mill, MD 21244
Gates open every day from 9am-5pm Nov-March;
9am-7pm April-October.
For any questions you may have, please feel free to contact us and someone will get back to you.
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