RIBBLE VALLEY ex-pats living across the globe are reserving spaces at a new memorial wood for when they die.

Council workers have had requests from as far away as South America, Asia and Africa after announcing their plans for a dedicated arboretum last year.

An arboretum is an area of land where commemorative trees are planted ecologically in groups of family, genus or species.

They are becoming popular as a replacement for headstones and memorial plaques, partly because they are living memorials'.

The arboretum at Clitheroe Cemetery will be created next to the existing woodland burial ground, which allows people to be buried in a less formal setting.

Ribble Valley Council has now been inundated with requests from ex-pats.

Countryside officer David Hewitt, said: "Commemor-ative trees has grown in popularity since conservation organisations and public bodies started offering people the chance to buy trees in memory of loved ones.

"Land for the Clitheroe arboretum has been cleared and the paths will soon be in place.

"The take-up has been fantastic and we have received requests from people with Clitheroe connections who live as far away as Belize, South Africa and Kualalumpar."

More than 100 trees will be planted at the arboretum over a 20-year period.

Mr Hewitt added: "The process of choosing a tree and watching it grow can help people with the grieving process.

"We will be allowing people to bury ashes at the base of the trees and families will be able to buy a commemorative tree with room for up to four ash interments."

Ribble Valley Council has an international reputation for its work in "green burials". Its woodland burial site is considered one of the best in the world and has been praised by academics and burial experts.

More 70 people are buried there, including one woman from France.