Skipton'S pioneering eco-friendly woodland burial site is continuing to strive to provide the "good funeral".

The Tarn Moor Memorial Woodland, situated off the B6265 Grassington Road, opened in November 2002 and offers a green alternative to the conventional methods of burial and scattering of ashes.

Since then there have been more than 100 burials and twice as many families have been in touch to pre-book plots.

People from all religious walks of life can be laid to rest there and ashes can be scattered at the site.

A conservation approach to death is taken with the deceased being placed in a biodegradable coffin or shroud before being interred. A tree is planted above to commemorate the person's life.

Last year Tarn Moor Trustees, who set up the site, were given permission to section off an area as a last resting place for pets.

The memorial woodland includes seating and open glade areas to provide families with the space for quiet contemplation.

Burial ground manager Wendy Pratt said she was very proud to be part of the scheme.

She said: "Tarn Moor is not just a beautiful location for burial. Tarn Moor is about people. I have found that over the last three-plus years of meeting families, either at a funeral or when reserving a plot, the concept of something different has been thought-provoking and encouraged people to make plans about their own funerals.

"The impression of a woodland burial has often been that 'you have to be in a cardboard box and have a tree planted'.

"At Tarn Moor we pride ourselves on choice, whether it be location, casket, ceremony or involvement. So many people leave a funeral with us and say 'That was lovely'. There is such a thing as 'a good funeral'."

Mrs Pratt added: "We are not just a burial ground that happens to plant trees, but have a long term woodland management scheme in place, to produce a lovely place for families to visit for many generations to come."

Mrs Pratt told the Herald she had spoken to many people at the site about planning their own funeral, often a taboo subject.

She explained: "Pre-planning your own funeral arrangements is very wise and people do feel comforted to know that they have done it."

She added that Skipton people were entitled to a 25 per cent discount on plots.

This is in line with the objectives of the Tarn Moor Trust, a charity with a limited portfolio of land and property, which uses its income to benefit Skipton folk.

It has given money towards the all-weather pitch at Greatwood and Horse Close, showers and toilets at Skipton Church Institute Cricket Club and changing facilities at Sandylands.

The general management of the estate is undertaken by Paul Elgar of Dacre, Son & Hartley but memorial woodland bookings are made through Mrs Pratt. She can be contacted on 01756 701688.