This initiative aims to transform traditional funeral spaces into greener, more ecological areas that support biodiversity. The Green Spaces service has developed a multi-year plan to green all sites. By October 2026, about a dozen cemeteries will be partially or fully transformed, with the municipality progressing at an average rate of three new cemeteries per year.
Priority is given to cemeteries in the villages before tackling, plot by plot, the large urban cemeteries such as those in the North and South. Recent achievements include Ramegnies-Chin, Saint-Maur, and Thimougies, with Froyennes and Ramecroix planned for the next stages.
The methods employed involve primarily seeding gravel paths with grass, soil decompaction, and planting ground cover, as well as trees and perennials in unoccupied spaces to enhance biodiversity.
This transition is supported by Walloon legal frameworks, including the total ban on phytosanitary products since June 2019 and decrees concerning 'funerals' and the sustainable use of pesticides. The 'Cimetière Nature' label, launched in 2015, accompanies this effort.
On-site, concrete developments include replacing gravel surfaces with slow-growing lawns, ground cover plants, and flower meadows. Birdhouses, insect shelters, diverse hedges, ponds, or apiaries are also being installed to support fauna and pollinators. Maintenance focuses on regular mowing, while keeping some mineralized areas for vehicle access.
