GF Hawkins Ltd, based at Milden Hall Farm in Brent Eleigh, near Sudbury, wants to build natural burial ground in Little Waldingfield

A family farm near Sudbury is seeking permission to build a natural burial ground to meet ‘growing demand’.

GF Hawkins Ltd, based at Milden Hall Farm in Brent Eleigh, has submitted an application to Babergh District Council.

The company wants to meet the demand for natural burial grounds in the region, with the nearest one in Wrabness, Essex, out of 270 natural burial sites currently in the UK.

A document submitted to the district council reveals the burial ground could be built on Brands Field, off the B1115 in Little Waldingfield.

The proposed 0.99 hectare site at the moment consists of intensively farmed arable land.

Much of the site will be used for a wildflower meadow, burials, cremation urns/ash scattering and woodland planting.

A total of 0.623ha area of land will be used for actual burials, while the remainder of the site has been assigned for car parking and access.

If the district council gives the all-clear for the proposal, 29 car parking spaces would be provided to ensure no overflow car parking on the highway.

A planning statement said: “With growing demand for natural burial grounds and the nearest ones over 30km away in Wrabness, Essex, or 32km away in Culford, this site will provide local people with a choice in where they can be buried.

"The natural burial ground proposed is designed with sustainability, economic, social and environmental objectives in mind in providing a peaceful place for those who seek an environmentally conscious burial option.

"The aim is to immediately establish a wildflower meadow, using locally sourced seed, over the current arable field with initial landscape tree and hedge planting.

“Once this is completed, memorial trees will be planted over the grave ‘to create a woodland in perpetuity’.”

When the business is up and running, it would take on a maximum of 100 burials per year, with all burials taking place between 11am and 2pm to avoid busy traffic times.

An existing access point off the B1115 would be utilised for the development.

A planning statement said it was designed with sustainability, economic, social and environmental objectives in mind in providing a peaceful place for those who seek an environmentally conscious burial option.

It added: “With several members of the youngest generation of the farming family needing to earn an income from the small family farm at an extremely difficult time (removal of farm subsidies, poor harvests, significantly increased tax regime and difficulties regarding succession following the October 2024 Budget), this further diversification would complement the green ethos and experience of existing green diversification ventures at Milden Hall Farm.”