THE future of a bid to extend a green burial ground near Ludlow is now in the hands of Shropshire planners.

Lin and Roger Dalton, who own Ludford Park Meadow of Remembrance, want to increase the number of plots they can use for traditional burials and also for the burial of cremated ashes.

Their planning application has attracted a number of objections, including concerns about additional traffic if use of the sie is increased.

The couple bought the plot less than 12 months ago.

“When the original planning permission was granted, there was a mix-up and so the meadow is under-used and all we want to do is regularise the situation,” said Lin, aged 54.

She says that only 17 per cent of the site, which covers more than half an acre, is utilised and it is able to take many more burials.

“This is a beautiful site and everyone knows that there is limited land available for burials,” she said.

The couple work in conjunction with Shropshire Wildlife Trust, which receives 10 per cent of the income from the cost of burial plots.

“We have stated in our wills that we will leave the site to the wildlife trust and also a proportion of our estate to ensure its upkeep,” said Lin.

The trust is interested in the site as the meadow is home to many species of wild flowers. If people want, they can be remembered by a flat commemoration plaque on the ground – but there are no gravestones.

In spring, the site displays snowdrops, cowslips and wild daffodils, followed in the summer by wild flowers and grasses including musk mallow, yellow rattle, red and white campion and ox eye daisies. In December, Christmas holly wreaths are found on the site.

Consultation on the application ends this week and planners are expected to make a decision before the end of the year.