A woman who runs a golf driving range has branched out by becoming the first burial manager at a new woodland cemetery.

Wendy Pratt, who runs White Hills driving range at Stirton, near Skipton, with her husband Richard, is to oversee the Tarn Moor Memorial Woodland, a ten-acre meadowland plot near the Craven Heifer, off Grassington Road, Skipton.

The unconsecrated cemetery has been granted planning permission from Craven District Council and is due to open later this year. People are already signing up to claim a plot.

It is to be run on eco-friendly lines. People will be able to construct their own coffins and carry out their own funeral arrangements if they wish.

And a special area has been set aside for pets and for people who want to be buried with their animals.

Mrs Pratt originally wanted to set up the burial ground on her own land, but after consultation with residents dropped the idea.

It was then taken up by the Tarn Moor estate, a 300-year-old trust which provides funds for projects to benefit Skipton residents and she was asked to spearhead the project.

Mrs Pratt recruited Bradford-based independent countryside manager, Richard Breese to help design the woodland setting.

She describes the project as history-making. "There will be no physical signs of a grave but there will be a record of the burials and evidence set on a stone below ground," she said.

"A special memorial area is being set aside so that people can have a physical remembrance on something like a brass plaque.

"Initially we will be planting 60 Oak trees so that in 100 years this will be an Oak woodland," she said.

It would be ideal for humanist burials but open to everyone including Quakers, Muslims and other religious denominations.

"We have already had someone wanting to be the first to be buried here. We have a significant number of people wanting plots," Mrs Pratt said.

The ground will be initially grazed by sheep but also planted with wild flowers and pathways laid out.

There are also plans to construct a footpath along Grassington Road from Skipton to reach the area.

Paul Elgar, Tarn Moor Estate managing agent, said the trust was set up in 1700 and is still providing benefits for Skipton people.

"Wendy has been the catalyst for this latest scheme which seemed ideal for this land - it will not disturb anybody and generate a better income that if it was left as agricultural land, " he said.

Plots cost £500 but people who have lived in Skipton for ten years of the past 30 can get a 25 per cent discount. People living outside Craven will pay an extra 50 per cent. Mrs Pratt can be contacted on 07968 205880.