THE SEARCH for the ideal final resting place for her grandmother led Terena Plowright to design one of the only natural burial sites of its kind in Hampshire.

The environmentally-friendly burial ground between Clanfield and East Meon uses native British species trees in existing woodland as the natural replacement for stone headstones.

People are interned in eco-friendly wicker baskets, replacing traditional wood, brass coffins and plastic, which are banned because they take too long to rot and contaminate the soil.

The only clothes allowed for burial are of natural fibres.

Miss Plowright, 38, and business partner Rosie Bullough opened their South Downs Natural Burial Ground today as an alternative eternal resting place to traditional church and other public cemeteries.

Miss Plowright said: "My grandmother, Hilda Parker, is nowhere near her life's end, she's full of life. But she approached the subject of where she wanted to be buried with doubt. She said she didn't want to be cremated and did not like the idea of a normal burial.

"I agreed with her because I'm keen on the idea of doing as little damage to the natural environment as possible. I came up with an idea of what she'd like, but there wasn't anywhere, so I and Rosie, who was thinking about her family's burial, decided to design the environmentally-friendly burial ground ourselves.''

The pair even dig the graves themselves in the peaceful and secluded setting of rolling hills, with native species of trees as the natural memorials.

Miss Plowright said: "Many people don't realise burials do pollute the ground, through the chemicals from preserving the coffin wood, such as varnish. Also, nylon clothing doesn't rot away for many years. Of course, cremation pollutes the air as well.

"Our burial site doesn't have normal coffins, but wicker baskets, and people are clothed in cotton, which also decays quickly without harming the soil.''

The woodland also creates a natural habitat for birds and insects and a beautiful place for mourners.

The site has council planning permission. Professional approval also comes from assistant funeral director Malcolm Harris, of J Edwards and Son, of Waterlooville.

He said: "We have a lot of inquiries about natural burials and we fully support this new approach.''

Terena Plowright can be contacted on 01730 823005 or 07808 482 959.