Scattering Ashes on Radio 4 – Feed Me to the Wind

The BBC BBC Radio 4 documentary Feed Me to the Wind explored the growing cultural trend of people choosing to scatter cremated ashes in meaningful places. The half-hour programme featured a range of voices — from bereaved family members to service providers — discussing why ashes scattering has become increasingly visible in contemporary society.

The show included interviews with members of the public, including one woman who had left her mother’s ashes with a funeral director for several years before deciding to scatter them, as well as providers of ashes scattering services such as a river boat company specialising in Hindu and Sikh ceremonies and an aerial scattering provider…. and of course Scattering Ashes who were in full voice putting in an unashamed plug for the wonderful Viking Boat Urn.

Feed Me to the Wind also touched on public perceptions about ashes, including a segment where a contributor described cremation ashes as “toxic” — a claim that surprised listeners despite cremated remains being largely inert.

The programme’s title is taken from a lyric in the folk song The Joy of Living by Ewan MacColl, adding a reflective note to the exploration of how people ritualise the end of life.

Producer – Caleb Parkin

Presenter – Amanda Mitchison