Hinton Park Woodland Burial Ground & Funeral Directors Reviews 

Myself and my partner of 30 years were committed socialists, humanists and atheists. As Disabled People we valued and celebrated our lives together and it was very important that this was embedded in the events organised to mark Linda's death.
In her will, Linda expressed her desire to be buried in woodland and in Hampshire. As we had moved to London in 2014, this meant that a number of visits had to be organised in order to choose a site in keeping with Linda's expressed desires and known preferences.
Hinton Park was the fifth and final site we visited. Every aspect of the site (with the exception of wheelchair accessibility) was perfect. The dappled plot we chose provides tranquillity in beautiful, peaceful, natural woodland. The staff at Hinton Park were very flexible and caring, cooperating with the funeral directors in London to ensure that this emotionally charged humanist event ran seamlessly and smoothly. For example, they facilitated disabled people to act as pallbearers, including myself as a totally blind person, with other physical impairments. For me and Linda's friends Hinton Park offers a genuine, green environment where Linda can re-unite with nature. We are looking forward to visiting her plot again in early 2024 to plant a tree and some wild flower seeds.

A beautiful setting and sympathetic staff.

Not only is Hinton Park Woodland the most beautiful peaceful resting place, the staff are amazing. They all make what is a difficult and sad time that little bit easier with their care and compassion. Nothing is too much trouble and they guide you through everything.

Kind caring compassionate from the first meeting until the day of my husbands service.
A beautiful and fitting final resting place.

Over a month gone by and although an attempt at cutting the grass around some graves others have not been. I had spoken to a Groundsman last week who said it will all be getting done. This week it’s still the same! This is a hazard, I went over and sprained my ankle the other week. It’s dangerous with the wet, long grass. As it’s so uneven on your underfoot. How long before someone has a serious accident? As a lady said today, once the coop took over it was never the same. I can’t fault the service it’s the aftercare that’s a zero. As usual the new plots are all manicured. Please don’t bother with your scripted response Claire… I’ve given up!!!! Actions speak louder than words!

Very friendly and helpful staff. The site is lovely and tranquil and the trees have grown amazingly since our first burial there 20 odd years ago.
Thoroughly recommended

I would like to take time to thank Karen and Catherine for there work in placing my fathers ashes with my mother on 24/8/2023. Nothing to much trouble and also with the dignity that goes with a job like this, we wanted to change the tree, no problem. we wanted to change the date, no problem was the key word from them so i would like to thank them very very much for taking care of us along with family and friends xxx

Utterly devastated. Last month, I bought a new memorial plaque for my daughter's grave because the original plaque had deteriorated very badly since 2006 - which I do understand happens as they are made of wood.
Today I visited her grave and the new plaque was missing, which was pretty heartbreaking. I'm sat writing this trying not to cry.
I went to the office and to cut a long story short the plaque had been removed by the staff because I did not buy it from them.
Yes, you do read the above paragraph correctly.
I followed the ethos in what the plaque was made from but they chose to remove it as I had not bought it from them. It would appear that they see us relatives simply as cash cows.
To be honest, I didn't think to go to them after so long and I genuinely don't remember what we signed back in 2006 whilst arranging her funeral and burial. To be accused of 'breaking the rules' is a farce as there are so many items within the unkempt grounds that have been there for a long time and do not fall within what is allowed to be there.
I genuinely cannot describe how it felt to see my daughters grave unmarked.
A very kind gentleman on reception gave me the plaque back and I am so grateful for that and for his empathy today.
I have returned it to her grave and if they remove it again do I upset other relatives by insisting that the 'powers that be' remove all precious non-regulated items from other graves?
No.

They were so helpful and exceeded our expectations. Katie went above and beyond , meeting us to hand over mums clothes for her to rest in , on her day off. As we live 2 hrs away from the site , it was so important that Katie kept us in the loop which she did wonderfully . Couldn’t recommend you enough and a special thank you to Katie for holding our hand through such a difficult time . Lynne
Blacklock and John Wilder

We had a very good experience with the Hinton woodland burial ground team. They made this difficult time a commemoration of a loved ones life with our individual requests met.

From start to finish it was beautifully organised. The needed help was there on the other end of the phone and given with patience and kindness no matter what questions I asked. On the day it all went very smoothly. They were certainly the right people for such a sensitive job.

Every detail was dealt with sensitively by the staff, we was made to feel very comfortable, the service and the Celebrant Helen was superb, and portrayed the family memories perfectly, our most grateful thanks to all at the Woodland burial ground

My second attempt at submitting this review !
Unfortunately, I have 4 family members who are laid to rest or interned at Hinton Park and the family have a plot prepaid, for another family member.
The "Before" experience began nearly 4yrs ago and could not be faulted. The team were very caring and professional, worthy of 5 stars.
Regrettably, it is now, this year, the "After experience" which has upset so many, including my father and our family. Up until this time the grounds have been very well maintained and yet have still retained a woodland feel; after all any planting that loved ones wish to do, has to be in line with the rules of native plants, no problem with that. Yet, it seems acceptable for the rule makers or new owners to disregard all of the rules for their own means. No consultation, respect or even fore thought to people's feelings have been considered. A notice on a notice board is insufficient when you intend to leave the grounds to go wild, especially when it is so wild that family cannot find their loved one's plots. Yet strangely, the area in front of the main building and office is very well manicured and maintained. Surely this should be included as an advert for your
re-wilding project?
Having read through the upsetting reviews, I find it again disrespectful to use terms like "the grounds look different" this is incorrect, the grounds look abandoned. After the overgrowth has started to be cut down, it was left there like a farmer's hay field. Why not clear as you go? When family members have to take it into their own hands to clear around their family plot, so our 92yr old father, who needs to use a walker and struggles over the rough ground, can visit his wife, it is a very poor show. This is not what was paid for. The plot was chosen for its proximity and view to the lake, just as Mum wanted, that view is now nonexistent. When my sister complained about the state, the response was " tell us what plot it is and we will sort it out for you", too late we were already working on clearing the plot. Besides, everybody deserves to be treated equally, with respect and no special treatment because of a complaint. Why, when you read these ongoing reviews and replies, has no one had the decency or integrity to put their hand up and admit we got it wrong, no apologies, just excuses.
Please don't respond with your seemingly standard reply of " the grounds might look a little different"
John Hazell

From the start the staff are most helpful, compassionate and kind.
From planning the funeral and holding the service it was all plain sailing, nothing was too much trouble.
Hana and Phill lead a good professional team.

Although mum was buried a year ago it was only last month I finally got answers. Leading up to the funeral my sister & I rang & at times nobody got back to us,and emails went unanswered. As this is a distressing time it didn’t help with the distress it was causing us. The worst part for me was getting the final details organised less than 24 hours before mums funeral. I felt like I was being ignored.A tree was requested as per contract & it hadn’t been planted & I was told this had been overlooked & it would now be planted between November & March. I don’t feel I have will have closure until the tree is planted. Only then will I be able to say “mum rest in peace”I would like to thank the ladies who answered my questions recently although I can’t remember their names. Having said all this I could not fault the day of the funeral,the staff were caring & compassionate & although sad was a lovely service. Shame about the office side.

All preparation for burial of my husband was done extremely professional. Everything was clearly explained and ceremony was made as we wish. Very good contact with team, people with high level of empathy . Everything was done with high professionalism and dignity. I cannot be grateful enough especially to Katie for her support and understanding this such a terrible situation I find myself. Thank you .

Jane Young
3 reviews·1 photo

22 minutes ago NEW-Edit
This used to be quite a beautiful, tranquil, reflective space to sit and reminisce Our dad loved to go and sit and chat to his wife and son who are both buried there. Now to our absolute horror its like a derelict scrub land!! Its long grass, in parts almost waist high grass and weeds You can't read the plates to see who the grave belongs to, and in parts where the grass has been cut to allow a sort of path, plates have been left strewn across the path How very sad is this, I don't really understand I have spoken and written to Hinton and have been assured that there are on the case. I'm afraid that is little comfort to us It should never have been left in the first place We have all paid good money for our loved ones resting place the state of the grounds shows just total disrespect How very sad !!

Personal experiences when first arranging cremations here were that if friendly and sensitive staff. Sadly this is where my positive experience ends. The maintenance of the grounds is awful. Once they have your money it seems they don’t care. I have had issues over the years which I have raised and been given feeble excuses about however nothing compares to the utter disgrace and mess of the burial grounds this week. The distress this has caused my family when we came to the rose garden to leave flowers for my grandparents is unacceptable. It was so overgrown and riddled with weeds that we were unable to find the name plaques. We do not live close by and so only visit every 3-4months and it was a mess last time. This time however I am literally speechless. It appears the company are professional up to the point they have taken your money and then don’t care. The complete lack of respect for both those who have been buried/cremated there and the families who wish to visit is nothing short of disgraceful.

The attention to detail and the wonderful atmosphere on the day.I have had so many family, friends and neighbours saying "It was the finest, most well balanced funeral service that they have ever attended."
Thank you so much. My late wife would have been delighted.

Every part of my experience with Hinton was dealt with sensitively and professionally. There was never any delay in communication and nothing was ever too much trouble.