It is a resting place of natural beauty that was the first natural burial park to be opened in the Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth area more than eight years ago.

And these stunning drone images - captured this week - show the scale of the latest developments at the site in north Lowestoft.

Lowestoft Journal: Drone images show the progress at Gunton Woodland Burial Park in Lowestoft. Picture: Steve BullionDrone images show the progress at Gunton Woodland Burial Park in Lowestoft. Picture: Steve Bullion (Image: Steve Bullion)

With the last of the 6,250 British native woodland trees for the second phase of development at Gunton Woodland Burial Park in Lowestoft planted on Wednesday, the Gunton Woodland Burial Trust is expanding six hectares of agricultural land into the existing woodland burial area.

Burial park volunteers began planting the final batch of the 2023/24 season's trees - a total of 1,750 plants - at the start of this month.

Lowestoft Journal: Staff and volunteers planting the final batch of 1,750 plants for the 2023/24 season at Gunton Woodland Burial Park. Picture: Mick HowesStaff and volunteers planting the final batch of 1,750 plants for the 2023/24 season at Gunton Woodland Burial Park. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

The efforts of volunteers and staff was hailed - along with the support of students from East Coast College who joined in with a day of planting earlier this month - on March 13, as the final tree was placed on the grounds to mark the planting of 6,250 British native woodland trees since December.

Lowestoft Journal: Staff and volunteers planting the final batch of 1,750 plants for the 2023/24 season at Gunton Woodland Burial Park. Picture: Mick HowesStaff and volunteers planting the final batch of 1,750 plants for the 2023/24 season at Gunton Woodland Burial Park. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

It has seen 1,300 trees planted before Christmas, 1,700 trees planted in January and more than 3,000 following in February and March.

In the summer a new track and an additional car park area will be constructed, before a further 2,500 shrubs and border hedging will be planted next winter to complete the project's second phase.

Lowestoft Journal: Staff and volunteers planting the final batch of 1,750 plants for the 2023/24 season at Gunton Woodland Burial Park. Picture: Mick HowesStaff and volunteers planting the final batch of 1,750 plants for the 2023/24 season at Gunton Woodland Burial Park. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

That will make around 9,300 trees that have been planted for the second phase of the project following Forestry Commission funding.

After opening in January 2016, the team behind the Gunton Woodland Burial Park - one of the first in the country to be run by a non-profit making charity - has progressed the latest major phase of works.

Lowestoft Journal: Staff and volunteers planting the final batch of 1,750 plants for the 2023/24 season at Gunton Woodland Burial Park. Picture: Mick HowesStaff and volunteers planting the final batch of 1,750 plants for the 2023/24 season at Gunton Woodland Burial Park. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

With the first phase of works centring around the development of a woodland burial park that was approved in April 2013, the Gunton Woodland Burial Trust was formally registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation in 2014.

That led to the phase one development scheme - which saw 7,000 British native trees planted on a 33-acre site with five glades formed in which the burials take place.

Lowestoft Journal: Steve Chilvers planting the final batch of 1,750 plants for the 2023/24 season at Gunton Woodland Burial Park. Picture: Mick HowesSteve Chilvers planting the final batch of 1,750 plants for the 2023/24 season at Gunton Woodland Burial Park. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

Steve Chilvers - trustee and project lead for phase two of the works - said the expanded area is to be used for the interment of ashes, which will take place within the seven newly created glades.

Mr Chilvers said: "We received Forestry Commission funding for the planting of these trees across the 6ha site."

Lowestoft Journal: Signage shows the works carried out at Gunton Woodland Burial Park in Lowestoft. Picture: Mick HowesSignage shows the works carried out at Gunton Woodland Burial Park in Lowestoft. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

With the planting works being carried out well in advance of the land being made available to the public for interments, Mr Chilvers added: "These will be available within the next five to seven years.

"With a further 2,500 trees to come, this time next year it will mean that 14,500 British native woodland trees will have been planted across the two sites.

"As the drone images show, there has been a massive transformation at the burial park."