Environmentally aware residents in Coventry and Warwickshire are continuing their green contributions from beyond the grave, according to the region’s leading funeral service provider.

The Heart of England Co-operative Society, which has ten funeral homes across Coventry, Warwickshire and south Leicestershire, says an increase in awareness of alternative coffins such as willow and bamboo has led to a surge in demand.

Darryl Smith, Funeral Division Director with the Society, said in the first two weeks of this month the number of requests for these types of coffin has increased by almost 200 per cent on the same period last year.

Requests for cardboard coffins increased by 100 per cent between 2007/8 and 2008/9 while requests for bamboo coffins had leaped by more than 600 per cent during the same period.

Mr Smith said the recent funeral of former Are You Being Served? And EastEnders actress Wendy Richard had helped raise awareness.

He said: “We believe there are more requests for this type of coffin these days simply due to the fact people are starting to become more aware of the choices available.

“High profile funerals such as Wendy Richard’s have probably also played an important part and could indeed be part of the reason we have seen a surge in the past few weeks when compared to the same period last year.

“It seems that nowadays not only are people thinking of ways they can help reduce their carbon footprint in life, but are even looking at ways to reduce it after death.

“Certainly we are having fewer requests for traditional wooden coffins now than ever before.”

Wendy Richard’s funeral hit the headlines earlier last month, not only for the number of celebrities who turned out to pay their respects, but also for the fact her eco-coffin was made from woven bamboo.

The coffin had been selected by her loved ones specifically because they wanted to save a tree from the chop.