Woodland burial site for Knowsley Estate land

A woodland burial site is to be opened on 66 acres of private land forming part of the Knowsley Estate in Rainford.

GreenAcres Woodland Burials is investing more than £1m in its first cemetery in the North West having already developed more than 150 acres of burial land in other parts of the country.

The developer, a subsidiary of the Liverpool-based Bibby Line Group, will construct paths, ceremonial buildings and other amenities.

The first GreenAcres woodland burial park opened in Norfolk in 2002, followed by Epping Forest in Essex and Chiltern in Buckinghamshire.

Managing director Andy Paling said: "The concept of woodland burials aims to reinforce the principle of life's regular renewal, 'the cycle of life' so to speak.

"It is slightly different from other 'green' or 'woodland' burial sites firstly, because it is based around restoring and enhancing the biodiversity of existing woodlands that are currently in poor condition and secondly, because of the unique range of facilities provided."

Ceremonial buildings will be fully operational by late autumn at the Merseyside site, which comprises two 19th and 20th century plantations, Emma Wood and Grace's Wood.

The development also opens 71 acres of private woodland and meadowland for public access.