Grieving relatives offered chance to grow vegetables above buried remains

A green campaigner wants grieving relatives to grow vegetables above the buried remains of their loved ones. Farmer Richard Sibley, 63, from Cleeve in North Somerset, plans to offer people the chance to be buried in shrouds or wicker coffins on his land.

It would then be used for cultivation, and the relatives could pay to use the land to grow their own crops. The scheme would have to be approved by planning authorities, but Mr Sibley is already in talks with a burial firm.

If it all comes to fruition, up to 500 people could be buried on the seven-acre farm. Mr Sibley, a sustainable farm entrepreneur, said: "I know this sort of scheme may not appeal to everyone.



"Potentially a family could be growing their own vegetables above where their loved one is laid to rest. I came up with the idea because land used for burials is redundant after the person is lowered into the ground.

"This way, the land can continue to be productive and give something back."

It would cost about £1,400 to bury a loved-one on the site, and costs £13 per month to continue farming the land.