Southwark are cynically creating a false dichotomy between the park and the wood to try to split local opinion. In reality there are many solutions that mean both can be saved.

The real problem here is private lawn burials is an incredibly wasteful use of green space land. It really is not suited of inner cities. Yes the grieving processes is very painful but the reality is most graves are not visited again after a few months. The problem is that after that period the land will locked out and cannot be used for any other purpose for the next 75 years - that would be 2090 for a new lawn burial area created now. Even then reuse is difficult and costly. It will essentially be unused dead land and in a city with the space constraints that London has - that really isn’t acceptable.

Cemeteries have always been on the edge of towns and cities as they have never been that high a priority. That is why these cemeteries are where they are, however, they are no longer on the edge of the city but quite close in and the demand for other use such a recreation and nature must take priority. It is perfectly reasonable to expect people who want a lawn burial to go a bit further out of town to get one. Also there other burial options that are not so excessive in land usage and could provide other utility.

Regarding the SSW campaign - everyone I know involved is against using the rec as burials as much they are against using the woods. It would be counter to everything the campaign is fighting for. If they are successful the rec will be saved forever. The petition against these plans now has over 7000 signatures.