A BEAUTIFUL private wood at Collett's Green in Powick, near Worcester, could be turned into a green burial ground.

Instead of a graveyard and a commemorative headstone, those buried at Lordswood would have a natural setting and a canopy of trees.

Formerly part of the Croome Estate, Lordswood is a semi-natural woodland covering 17 acres, which was bought by the Walsh Trust about five years ago.

Trustees Craig and Marjorie Walsh, of Lucies Farm, Powick, considered various uses for it, from grazing pigs or cattle there, to coppicing and harvesting the hazel, for use in basket making.

Then Mr Walsh read that singer and actor Adam Faith, who died last year, had been buried in a wicker casket.

"I thought burial caskets might be made out of hazel, when in fact they are made from willow," he said.

"But this led me to find out more about green burial grounds and the idea seemed perfect to me.

"Lordswood needs some investment, but it's hard to sink money into it without any prospect of return.

"A portion of money paid for burial plots would be ploughed back into the woodland."

Green burial is an increasingly popular, environmentally-friendly option and there are now around 500 sites in this country.

They are often on former agricultural land and people are invited to plant a bush or tree to mark the burial site.

"I wonder what they will look like in years to come, with a mixture of shrubs and trees, some of which will grow to be giants," said Mr Walsh.

"We won't allow just anything to be planted at Lordswood. The oak trees will be there already and we'll take care not to damage roots when graves are dug."

Having taken advice from the Forestry Commission and consultant geologists, he is confident there would be no risk of spoiling the wood or polluting any water courses.

A planning application for the green burial ground is due to be considered by Powick Parish Council at a meeting in The Pavilion, Callow End, at 7pm this evening.