A COUNTY couple are selling plots of their family farm so people can be buried in a natural setting.

Richard and Sarah Vale, who met at Golden Valley Young Farmers, brought a derelict farm on the Welsh border 10 years ago, which they have restored as a family with their three children.

Now their love of nature has seen them create a green burial ground at their meadow in Glascwm near Hundred House.

After planning permission was granted and supported from their neighbours they opened for business in January and have already hosted two funerals.

"Basically my mother-in-law gave me the idea of a green burial site 25 years ago when she told us that when her time came, she wanted to be buried in a field so she could go back to nature," said Sarah, who is originally from Madley.

"Like myself, she loved nature and gardening was her passion. Ten years ago, she sadly passed away and had her wish. We found attending her funeral was such an uplifting experience that it sowed the seed in our minds to create our own natural burial meadow."

After visiting a similar site Richard, from Dorstone, was inspired to make their meadow into a burial site.

Sarah added: "Our life has always been pretty green and we have been referred to as 'the good life pair’, in reference to the TV series. We are virtually self-sufficient now and we avoid fertilisers - hence why we have lots of wildlife.

"Hay Meadow Burials is just another green thing added to our list."

As part of the green burial people are buried in the working hay meadow in coffins made of willow, material which is kind to the environment.

Sheep graze on the land in the autumn and wild flowers flourish.

There are no headstones except an oak marker placed to the ground with the person's name if wished.

Artificial flowers are also banned from the natural burial site.

The couple are also members of the Association of Natural Green Burial Grounds.

"It's an alternative zero maintenance burial," added Sarah.

"I went to Madeley church to visit my dad's grave recently and had to clean bird muck off the headstone.

"The families of the two people buried in our meadow know they are there but don't have to fuss.

"This is alternative from any religion although people can also have a church service before if they like. It's a DIY style funeral where you do not have to stick to tradition and can add colour to the ceremony or a theme, it is up to them.

"Our aim is to makes funerals a celebration of their life with an uplifting experience to support those that are grieving."