First bios urn burial at Merthyr Dyfan Cemetery

The late James Barrie Dawe was a local man who was known to many throughout the town, having played rugby for Barry and Cardiff and water polo for Wales. Barrie gave a lot of his free time to sport, which included rugby and teaching children and adults to swim.

When Barrie wasn’t teaching sports, he was a residential social worker for youth offenders, prior to that he had also worked at Merthyr Dyfan Cemetery.

Evidently, Barrie Dawe had a lot of time for people and loved his family very much, who were always happy to share him with anyone who needed his help.

Mrs Deryn Dawe contacted the Council and after discussion decided that she would like to bury her husband’s ashes with the seedlings of a Cherry Blossom, she commented that “he would be a happy man to know that he will be resting in such beautiful surroundings.”

Barry Town Council are proud to be the only stockist in Wales of the Bios Urn, which is a fully biodegradable urn designed to convert you into a tree after life. Mainly composed by two parts, the urn contains a seed which will grow to remember your loved one. Bios Urn turns death into a transformation and a return to life through nature.

The cleverly designed structure of the Bios Urn allows the seed to germinate in the top capsule, separated from the ashes. Once the urn starts to biodegrade, seed roots are already strong enough to contact the ashes. With biodegradation the entire set becomes part of the sub soil.

There are a variety of trees available ranging from; Pine, Gingko, Maple, Oak, Ash and Beech. Placement of your tree can be discussed with the Council.