Where to scatter ashes in Leicester

For many people, scattering ashes is a deeply personal moment. It can be a really meaningful way to say goodbye, and it’s important to take time to plan ahead and ensure you choose the right location for you and your loved one.

While some people choose to keep ashes at home in an urn, many people scatter ashes around natural beauty spots, usually places that have special memories attached to them. 

Scattering ashes is a great way of honouring your loved ones and in the UK people are generally allowed to scatter ashes anywhere. This can be along a river, in the sea, under a tree, at the beach or even on private land.

To scatter ashes in the sea or in a river then you do not need to have permission, but there are some guidelines to follow, and it’s recommended you seek advice from the environmental agency. For places inland it’s generally safe, but there are guidelines in place to protect nature and permission may need to be granted from the landowner. 

As Leicester is one of the oldest cities in the UK, there are many places for families and friends to scatter ashes, from the River Soar to Aylestone Meadows Local Nature Reserve to Watermead Country Park. 

Find your funeral director in Leicester who will help you arrange a cremation and give you ideas of a meaningful place to scatter your loved one's ashes.

The River Soar at Leicester Park is a serene, peaceful place to scatter the ashes of your loved one. The park provides a specific location for family and friends to gather and honour their loved ones that are peaceful and private.

While you cannot park right next to the river, the National Space Centre’s paid car park is close by and is a convenient place to park. You’ll find the car park on Exploration Drive. You can also scatter ashes on the grass, but be mindful of the direction of the wind and any other visitors to the park nearby.

Only family members can petition to have a loved one’s ashes scattered at the park, and there is a fee for doing so. To scatter ashes on the River Soar, you will need to complete a service request form. You can find details on how to do this on the park’s website. Once the relative authorities approve your request, you can proceed with your plans to scatter your loved one’s ashes.

Aylestone Meadows is a beloved location in Leicester, and visitors have flocked there for over 100 years. It is a place of quiet in the busy city, ideal for walking, picnics, cycling, fishing, boating, and honouring the memory of your loved one. 

An important wildlife reserve, Aylestone Meadows is popular among nature lovers who stroll through the meadows. You can spot otters on the river, and in the summer a herd of traditional Leicestershire rare breed Longhorn cattle herded in to graze.

This serene idyll is a beautiful place to scatter the ashes of a loved one and is easy to get to, thanks to the Great Central Way that runs through Aylestone Meadows, which is a well-maintained walking and cycling route that is accessible for all.

If your loved one enjoyed visiting Watermead Country Park, then this beloved Leicester park would be a poignant place to scatter their ashes. You can scatter ashes at any park in Leicester. As we have mentioned above, when scattering ashes in the River Soar, to scatter ashes in Watermead, you will need to complete a service request form and pay a fee.

Watermead Country Park is northeast of Leicester, immediately adjacent to the A46, nestled between Syston and Wanlip villages. The main entrance to the park is at Wanlip Road, Syston, close to the Hope and Anchor Pub.

All-day parking at Watermead costs around £2.50, and you can find pay-on-exit machines at Beacon Hill and Market Bosworth. Remember to have the correct change on you when you arrive. Parking fees go towards maintaining the park for visitors to enjoy for years to come.