Burials are normally arranged by contacting a funeral director. A burial may be arranged independently by contacting us.
In some circumstances we may arrange a local authority funeral where no one else else has made suitable arrangements.
Buying a lair
Under Scottish Law, when you buy a lair you buy the Exclusive Right of Burial in the lair. This means that youo:
- do not own the land
- have bought the right to be buried there
- have the right to erect a memorial
The land stays in the ownership of the burial authority or council.
Rights are sold in perpetuity and may be transferred at any time. You may only purchase the Exclusive Right of Burial from us when arranging a burial or interment of ashes. We have a policy of no pre-purchasing.
Types of lair
Our cemeteries offer the following services:
Full burial lair (FB)
A full burial is available in our operational cemeteries. Lairs accommodate up to three coffins, as well as up to six caskets of cremated ashes. This is described as a new lair, or grave. Locations are selected by cemetery staff.
Sometimes lair capacity can be limited due to:
- rock
- ground conditions
- previous burials
- drainage
The title holder of the lair would be advised of this, through the funeral director, prior to a burial taking place.
Gardens of Remembrance (CR)
Gardens of Remembrance for cremated remains are located in:
- Knadgerhill, Irvine
- Ardrossan
- Largs Brisbane Glen
- Millport
- High Road, Stevenston
- West Kilbride
- Redston, Kilwinning
Interments are restricted to cremated remains, for up to six caskets. Caskets should be of a biodegradable material.
The right to erect a memorials is provided, however there are restrictions to size.
Cremated remains lair
If there is no Garden of Remembrance in the cemetery, cremated remains lairs are allocated dependent on ground conditions. Most North Ayrshire cemeteries can accommodate a cremated remains lair.
A cremated remains lair carries the same Exclusive Rights of Burial as a full burial lair but with the exception that interments are restricted to cremated remains.
These lairs can accommodate up to six caskets of cremated remains. Caskets should be of a biodegradable material.
The right to erect a memorial is provided, however the size may be restricted dependent on location.
Memorial gardens for babies (B)
We have special areas for baby burials in:
- Largs Brisbane Glen
- Ardrossan
- Kilbirnie
- Knadgerhill
There is no fee for the interment of a baby or their cremated remains.
Private lair
A private lair allows you to erect a small memorial. Lairs usually accommodate two baby interments and up to four cremation caskets.
There is also no fee for the purchase of the Right of Burial. There will be costs for a memorial and the subsequent burial of cremated remains.
Shared lair
A shared lair is provided in a dedicated area. Your baby will be buried in a lair shared with other babies. There is no opportunity to include cremated remains of family members at a later date.
Areas are maintained as open lawn. There is no option of a memorial. If you wish, you may arrange for your baby's name to be recorded on a central memorial. There is no fee for an inscription on the memorial.
The Exclusive Right of Burial for shared baby lairs is owned by the council.
Woodland (W)
This is a grave opened for one burial. A tree is then planted on the grave. No headstone, or memorial, is permitted. Wild flowers may be planted on the lair. Coffins can be made of:
- wicker
- willow
- cardboard
- recycled paper
Arrange a private interment
Contact us to arrange a private interment, or scattering of cremated remains in a lair.
We will need a copy of the cremation certificate and the lair details.
Scattering of cremated remains
This is normally carried out by cemetery staff. Turf is removed from the grave, the ashes are scattered on the soil and the turf is relaid.