Forest Park Cemetery is situated in a location that allows wide views of the surrounding Forest and Country Park. To give the bereaved choice we offer lawn graves that allow headstones only and traditional graves which give the option of installing a full kerbed memorial. Special grave positions have also been introduced such as burial vaults. All graves have easy access and many are situated along paths for additional convenience to visitors. The cemetery can provide burial positions for all religions in the multi-faith areas but also recognises the needs of the local community by providing a dedicated Roman Catholic section.

In addition to Forest Park we manage and maintain the cemeteries within the London Borough of Redbridge on behalf of the council. These cemeteries are Barkingside, Barkingside Garden of Rest, Roding Lane and Buckingham Road. Although these cemeteries, apart from Roding Lane are closed for new burials, a large amount of effort and resources are used to maintain these cemeteries to the expected high standard. Any enquires in relation to these cemeteries needs to be addressed to the Forest Park office.

Grave positions are purchased on a lease known as 'The exclusive Rights of Burial'. At Forest Park this period is 50 years. The deed that accompanies a grave when purchased entitles the owner to permit interments in the grave and the right to erect a memorial during the period of the lease. It is important that our office has current records in relation to ownership of graves. This information is required if a grave needs to be re-opened for a further interment, if monumental works are required or if problems arise with a particular plot. If you have recently moved address and have a grave in any of the cemeteries we manage please contact the office so we can update our records or offer you advise on the process for transferring the ownership.

Forest Park provides a professional memorial service for all types of burial plots. Our memorial brochure has a vast range of headstones and traditional memorials, all of which show our commitment to quality. Each memorial can be modified to create a unique form of remembrance for your loved one and this work is carried out by skilled craftsmen who guarantee excellent results. We can also offer a full range of memorial services such as renovations and additional inscriptions to exiting memorials at Forest Park or any of the other Redbridge Cemeteries. Please do not hesitate to contact the office if you would like a copy of the brochure or if you wish to discuss any memorial options.

At Forest Park we appreciate the individual needs of the family to ensure the burial service is conducted as wished. We welcome families who want to include a cultural tradition such as witnessing the backfilling of the grave or any individual wishes such as dove or balloon release, horse drawn funerals or musical accompaniments such as bagpipes. Each grave is carefully prepared to allow access at the funeral and lined with flowers. Dry soil is provided at the graveside for the committal. If you have any particular graveside requests please contact the office and we will endeavour to assist.

For the convenience and safety of all who visit Forest Park Cemetery we have several important rules that must be observed in relation to the burial plots. A sample of the rules include:

• The placing of items such as slabs, markers, vases and planting outside the grave space is strictly prohibited and shall be removed without notice.
• The cemetery shall not be held responsible for the safe keeping of any wreaths, flowers, plants or any other object placed on the grave space.
• The cemetery reserves the right of access over all grave spaces and the right to temporarily remove without notice any memorial, potted plant or frame from any grave to facilitate the digging of another grave for the purpose of interment.
• No memorial may be fixed in the cemetery without the approval of the manager. Unauthorised memorials will be removed from the cemetery.

A complete list of our rules and regulations for the cemetery & crematorium are sent to grave owners with the deeds and can also be obtained from the cemetery office.

The cemetery grounds are maintained throughout the year to the highest level by our dedicated staff. Burial plots need time to settle once an interment has taken place and a period of at least 12 months is required before installing a full traditional memorial. Headstones on the lawn graves can be installed sooner as they are fitted to a pre-installed concrete foundation. It is not unusual for graves to sink over the coming years and if this occurs please notify the office so we can organise remedial works. In the interest of health and safety to visitors and staff the cemetery performs regular inspections of older memorials to ensure their stability. If a memorial is found to be dangerous or insecure we will need to make the memorial safe. This may include the laying down of such stones. All possible effort will be made to contact the owner of a memorial identified as dangerous. Grave owners are ultimately responsible for the maintenance of their memorials.

It is possible to purchase a grave plot in advance at Forest Park before a death occurs. Many people take comfort from buying a grave in reserve as it takes away the uncertainty over prices and possible future shortages of burial space. If you wish to purchase a plot in reserve please contact the office for more details.

• To make sure every funeral service is regarded as a major event and receives the same priority as if it was for a member of one's own family or a civic or national dignity.
• To provide improved facilities for the public, funeral directors, clergy and staff. We have spent considerable time and resources on building better facilities but it is important that we maintain them well so that the intended users get the benefit.
• To provide a colourful, warm and comforting environment for mourners, clergy, funeral directors and staff, both within and outside the building. This includes landscaping to the grounds, particularly to ensure the maximum colour during the winter months.
• Flexibility and adaptability. We exist for the benefit of the public and not the reverse.
• Providing for different community groups to meet their needs. The differences between communities are something which we encourage as it displays our ability to be flexible and to create a funeral ceremony that people want.
• Innovation - We want to anticipate people's needs and be open minded about what services we should provide. People's expectations are always changing and we must strive to keep up with, if not ahead of their demands. If we don't meet these aims, please let us know. Our complaints' procedure is shown on the YOUR FEEDBACK page.
  

Forest Park Cemetery and Crematorium has established a code of practice for all of the services we perform. This is to maintain our standards at the, crematorium and across all the cemeteries in the borough and to allow families to evaluate the level of care shown by our staff. We recognise that this is often difficult as people may be organising a funeral for the first time and may not be aware of what to expect. We hope this website will help you.

• Each body is cremated with the coffin, or shroud, within 24 hours of the funeral service.
• Each body is cremated separately. All the cremated remains' are collected for each individual and reduced to ash.
• The cremated remains/ashes are available for collection by the applicant (the person who arranged the cremation service, normally a close relative) or Funeral Director the next working day after the funeral and on the same day in certain cases.
• Anyone can choose to inspect the crematory (where the cremation takes place) upon application to the manager.
• Information on what arrangements can be made for the dispersal of the ashes, or their safe storage at the Crematorium, will be sent to all applicants - within two weeks of the funeral.
• A wide range of memorial choices will be provided within our gardens and Remembrance Room as well as for supply to your home. A trained member of staff is available to advise you on these matters.
• Provision will be made to ensure that no funeral is delayed beyond three days of the requested date. This may involve the funeral taking place at the weekend or after 5pm on a weekday at no further cost. Forest Park Cemetery and Crematorium abides by the FBCA's (Federation of British Cremation Authorities) code of conduct and is a member of the Charter for the Bereaved.
  
  

• Every grave can be personally selected by the family before deciding to purchase a position. Usually, an appointment will need to be arranged with our office so that a member of staff can be available to show you the choices. It should be noted that the choice may be limited in certain cases due to poor ground conditions.
• A uniformed member of our staff will accompany the funeral to the grave side to supervise the arrangements.
• The grave will be of the right size and correct depth and in the correct location.
• The grave will be neatly prepared with green artificial mats. These mats will cover any mound of earth as well as the area around the grave. The bottom of the grave will be flat.
• Clean and dry webs (lowering ropes) will be provided for the funeral director. These will be in sufficient quantity to lower the coffin or casket safely.
• In wet conditions, artificial, mats will be laid out all the way to the road. In some extreme cases, this may not be possible but every effort will be made to ensure that the mourners do not have to walk through mud.
• Each grave will be lined with interlocking boards so that Funeral Directors and their men can safely carry the coffin along the side of the grave.
• Any memorial which has to be removed off the grave to allow for the burial will be removed safely and carefully. These memorials will be replaced on the grave a year following the burial, once the ground has settled.
• It may be necessary to dismantle memorials if it is discovered that the stone was not fixed properly by the original mason. In these cases, the grave owner will be informed of our action and given an estimate for the repair.
• Crosses, plants, flowers and frames on neighbouring graves may all have to be moved to allow access for the digging team to prepare a grave. The cemetery will try and minimalise this type of disturbance and will endeavour to restore the condition of the area as much as possible. Grave owners are asked to plant flowers in pots to help this work as these items can be easily moved to one side. It will not be possible to restore planted beds of flowers which have to be removed to allow access to a grave to the same condition.
• All equipment including boards and planks will be collected by our men and removed from the area within 24 hours of the burial.
• Any complaints or queries should be reported to the cemetery office rather than to the grounds operatives or grave digging team.
• Provision will be made to ensure that no burial service is delayed beyond 5 days of the requested date. This may involve the service taking place at the weekend or on a weekday after 5pm for no further cost.
  
  

• Graves will be backfilled by hand in accordance with Caribbean tradition if requested.
• Wooden frames will be placed on the grave within 7 working days of the order being placed with the cemetery office.
• A full range of cemetery memorials will be offered.
  
  

A contract outlining the expected standards of maintenance within the cemetery is available on request. In summary, its main points are: (note: 'daily' means Monday to Friday only).

• The grass in each cemetery will be cut every 2-3 weeks between March and December (except in extraordinary weather conditions) as a minimum.
• Bins to be emptied daily in those sections visited frequently.
  All major roads and paved areas to be swept/blown daily.
• Toilets to be cleaned daily.
• All groundsmen and women to wear identifying clothes. No monies are allowed to be taken by these operatives for work. All requests for work must be made to the office.
  
  

• All staff to act with respect and sympathy in all matters relating to the care of the bereaved.
• All administrative staff to wear identifying clothes and name badges.
• All correspondence excluding requests for record searches to receive a reply within three working days. Record searches, primarily to locate the grave or resting place of a dead relative, will be carried out within 14 working days.
• The Remembrance room containing the Book of Remembrance open every day of the year.
• Disabled facilities will be provided and improved.