Arbuthnott and Bervie parish. Picture by Jim Irvine.
Hundreds of new burial spaces are being created at a north-east church, which dates back to the 13th century.
Arbuthnott Parish Church is an A-listed structure and, this week, planning permission was granted to expand its kirkyard by 387 burial lairs and 54 casket lairs.
The site would be enclosed with stock-proof fencing surrounded by hedges and 13 trees, to shield the graveyard from the road.
Aberdeenshire Council planning documents state: “A car park finished in a hard-core surface would be accommodated within the site and provide 16 parking spaces.
“Overflow car parking – to be used exclusively for large funerals- would be accommodated in an area covered in plastic grids allowing the grass to grow through, with approximately a further 29 spaces indicated.
“The area on either side of the access road would be finished in grass while the access and maintenance roads within would be finished in tarmac.”
Two sets of black “double leafed gates” will provide access to the graves.
New burial space will lead to hundreds of new graves created in Aberdeenshire
