A CEMETERY near Selby has been given grants of more than £17,000 to allow for further expansion.

The Drax Church graveyard, on the outskirts of the village, has been given the grant by the Rusholme Wind Farm community benefit fund - the second grant it has received from the organisation.

The churchyard previously received £5,000 from the Two Ridings Community Foundation to erect more than 300 metres of fencing, hedging and trees. When the graveyard reached maximum capacity, local residents created the Drax and Newland Joint Burial Board to create a community burial ground for the parishes of Drax, Newland, Long Drax and Camblesforth and appeal for extra funds.

Jackie McCafferty, programmes manager at the foundation, said: “This is an excellent example of cross-parish community support, which will save local people time and resources, encourage social interaction and improve community cohesion. We are delighted to fund these final touches to the burial ground to make it a pleasant and accessible place for reflection. The Two Ridings Community Foundation exists to strengthen local communities in ways like this.”

The second grant, of £12,076 was approved by the foundation’s grants panel, and will see a wildlife pond and access added to the site.

The foundation serves North and East Yorkshire, York and Hull, and administers a benefit fund for small charities, community and voluntary groups in the area near the turbines on behalf of the Rusholme Wind Farm in Drax, with £1,000 donated to the fund per megawatt of energy produced by the wind farm.

For more information or to apply for funding go to trcf.org.uk/Rusholme_Wind_Farm