A FLOWERING cherry tree has been planted in a new cemetery offering borough residents a ‘woodland’ burial for the first time.

The graveyard in Lee Lane will serve residents of Rishton and Great Harwood as well as offering natural interment for people across Hyndburn.

As he planted the tree on Monday, borough leader Cllr Miles Parkinson revealed work on the burial ground, an extension of the existing Great Harwood and Rishton Cemetery nearby, was now almost complete.

He also thanked local volunteers who are building a new Pennine-style dry stone wall at the graveyard.

Cllr Parkinson said: “I’m extremely pleased to dedicate this new cemetery to the people of Rishton and Great Harwood.

“It’s fitting that we plant a tree here, as, for the first time in the borough, we can now offer a natural burial option, an environmentally friendly alternative, which will also create a woodland habitat..

“This new cemetery has been built to provide residents of Rishton and Great Harwood with burial space for the next hundred years, as the old cemetery is almost full.

“It will provide areas for coffin burials for all denominations, as well as areas for ashes burials and the new natural burial option.”

Seven volunteers have worked every week on the wall since the end of November, guided by walling tutor Alan Rhodes.