New owners of crisit-hit natural Wirral burial ground reveal development plans for site

Aug 4 2010 by Lorna Hughes, Birkenhead News

THE new owner of Eastham’s natural burial ground has revealed plans to spend £250,000 developing the site.

The future of Mayfields Remembrance Park was left hanging in the balance last year after its previous owners ran out of money.

In November, the News reported how distressed relatives and Eastham councillor Phil Gilchrist had made repeated attempts over 18 months to track down the organiser of the original scheme, Donald Boddy, who was believed to be in Eastern Africa.

One member of staff stayed at her post unpaid to tend to the plots.

After months of negotiations, Co-operative Funeralcare purchased the burial ground and has now re-opened it.

The firm says it wants to spend £250,000 to create a “peaceful woodland area”.

There are also plans for a new area for funeral services, with its own chapel of rest and views across the Mersey.

The Mayfields site is one of just a handful of “woodland” burial sites in the region, with relatives given the option of planting a tree or shrub in memory of loved ones rather than the traditional headstone.