Plans for an eco-friendly burial site look to be gathering momentum.

Campaigners have been hoping to turn four acres of space in Headcorn into a natural burial site, in a bid to cut carbon emissions.

Maidstone Borough Council recently discussed its review of property assets, including turning land at Redhill Stables on Lenham Road into an environmentally friendly graveyard.

Mark Green, director of finance and business improvement, said: "We acquired the land some years ago to protect it from development.

"It's basically agricultural land that doesn't have much value. We're going out to see if there's any interest from undertakers."

Natural Burial Sites place people's remains in biodegrable shrouds or boxes. There are no headstones, instead there are trees and flowers.

Penny Kemp co-founder of Headcorn Sustainability, said: "It would be very good to see this happen. The remains just decompose naturally there's no cremation, so there are less carbon emissions.

"It's better from an environment as there are plastics in coffins that burn during cremations."

More than a thousand villagers leant their support to the idea by signing a petition last year.

Fellow Headcorn Sustainability member Sarah Farrow spoke to KentOnline at the time.

She said: "It’s a very sensitive subject but it’s an important one that people are interested in, and we feel this is a great way to take advantage of a beautiful, peaceful site that isn’t being used. It would need to be run in conjunction with local funeral directors."

Papers from a Policy and Resources Committee reveal natural burials could become part of Maidstone Borough Council's own services.

"It’s a very sensitive subject but it’s an important one that people are interested in" - Sarah Farrow, Headcorn Sustainability

They read: "The Council’s Bereavement Team have been consulted and it is considered that the facility could possibly jeopardise some of the business they provide at the crematorium.

"However, the site could provide an opportunity for the Council to provide this service in the Borough and more work needs to be undertaken to consider the viability of the Bereavement Team offering the service in the medium term. In conjunction with the Bereavement Team, work will continue to assess the suitability of the site for a Natural Burial Ground."

Kent already has natural burial sites in Sittingbourne, Lower Halstow and Edenbridge.

There are other sites at Canterbury City Cemetery, Whitstable Cemetery, Woodland Garden Cemetery in Ashford, Otford Parish Council Cemetery and Herne Bay Cemetery.

There is a small wooded area for natural burials in Chatham Cemetery.

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