Callous criminals have caused outrage after dumping a lorry full of hedge-cuttings and garden waste at a natural burial ground just before a funeral.

Shocked owners of Kent Natural Burials discovered the fly-tipping vandalism at their site at Riverview, Lower Halstow, near Sittingbourne.

Manager Sian Muir said: "This act was so disrespectful. Riverview is clearly signposted as a Natural Burial Ground so what sort of person would show such a lack of compassion?

"We are devastated and saddened with this unacceptable behaviour, especially as we had a burial taking place today. (Tuesday)

"Grieving families already have enough to cope with when losing a loved one during the Covid-19 pandemic."

She added: "We are appalled by this shameless act of fly-tipping."

The pile of garden and domestic waste including plastic buckets and flower holders was discovered on Friday dumped across the entrance to the ground in Wardwell Lane stopping relatives visiting the site.

Staff were at Riverview on Thursday until 3pm with a grave-digger and discovered the rubbish when they returned on Friday to complete the digging for today's burial. They had to hire a licensed company to clear the waste away and are now installing CCTV.

Director Rebecca O’Neill said: "I am so sad that we have been a victim of this crime.

"Imagine how distressing it would have been if the funeral cortege had arrived to find they could not lay the person to rest because someone was too lazy to be bothered to get rid of their waste appropriately.

"We have taken great lengths to make sure the site is as beautiful as possible and have an extensive plan to plant trees and wild flowers. We are asking for any witnesses to come forward if they saw anything suspicious.”

She added: "Our grounds are run on an ecologically-sound basis for an environmentally-friendly way to lay loved ones to rest. "The dumping of rubbish goes against everything that families choose for their loved ones."

Kent Natural Burials, based at Iwade, was founded in 2007 and has two grounds, Riverview at Lower Halstow and Deerton at Teynham.

To report information email kentnaturalburials@gmail.co.uk

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