A crematorium in Hampshire, which was built using cutting edge technology and a focus on sustainability, is celebrating 10 years of supporting the local community.

To mark the anniversary on 12 December, the team at The Oaks Havant Crematorium are making £10,000 worth of donations split between 10 different charities.

Over the years, more than £100,000 has been raised for a for variety of charities thanks to being part of a fundraising recycling scheme including Rowan’s Hospice, Naomi House and Jacksplace children’s hospices, Portsmouth’s Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide, and Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust.

Emma Connors, Head of Crematoria and Burial Grounds for Southern Co-op which runs the crematorium, said: “When I joined the team here, it was immediately clear just how much the local community matters to them. Over the years, they have supported countless people in their time of need. This has included inviting people to heart-warming memorial services at Christmas for people to remember their loved ones at a particularly difficult time of year.

“Most recently the team has been integral to the installation of the baby and child memorial in the grounds which has given parents a tranquil location to reflect. Known as Little Oaks and Acorns, it mimics the winding trunk of a tree and is covered with 300 bronze coloured acorn shaped leaves.

“It was because of the team that we now also have a post box installed which gives people a way to write letters to their loved ones. Or people can post small paper hearts that contain seeds for the site’s wildflower meadow.”

Construction started at The Oaks Havant Crematorium on 5 December 2012 and it was built to the highest environmental standards with the latest techniques in cremation and clean technology to prevent pollution to the air and surrounding environment.

Low level energy efficient lighting minimised light pollution and it has since had electric car-parking charging points installed alongside solar PV panels which can save up to 99 tonnes of CO2 over 25 years.

Gemma Lacey, Southern Co-op’s Director of People and Sustainability, said: “I remember colleagues getting together ahead of the crematorium opening and laying the first turf of its wildflower meadow.

“The meadow and other natural landscaping features have since turned into an oasis for wildlife with the latest report from the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust confirming that botanical diversity and abundance has shown a huge increase.

“Species diversity has more than doubled since we started monitoring the site 10 years ago proving that enhancing existing habitats for wildlife, can work in tandem with creating aesthetically pleasing and tranquil places for visitors.”

Over the decade, surveys have reported seven of the big eight bumblebee species, four species of grasshoppers, at least nine species of bat, and 21 species of bird including four of conservation concern – song thrush, stock dove, woodpigeon and wren.

The Oaks Havant Crematorium was named after the ancient woodland, believed to have been owned and used for deer hunting by the Bishop of Winchester in medieval times.

It was opened on 12 December 2013 by the MP for Havant, dignitaries, religious leaders and other officiates from the community.

The Oaks can accommodate up to 200 people for a service, which has views through six metre high windows, from floor to ceiling, over a private planted courtyard and onto the ancient woodland beyond.

Most recently, Southern Co-op extended the site by acquiring a five acre sweet chestnut coppice woodland next door which it is currently managing to encourage wildlife with the help of volunteers.