Module 09 - Churchyard conservation

The Woodland Trust is offering groups the chance to apply for packs of free trees for delivery in November 2013.

Whether groups are interested in helping wildlife; creating a faith, or inter-faith, green space; a community garden or allotment; or just want to enhance your local area - any community groups are very welcome to apply for free trees.

They have 4000 packs to give away and they come in three sizes – 30 saplings, 105 saplings and 420 saplings in various themes detailed below. You'll find all the details at www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/communitytrees

This year they’re trying to help bees by encouraging groups to plant species that are beneficial through their nectar or pollen. Many of packs are good for bees!

Would anyone like the garden of their Church, School, Community Hall or their own garden, transformed into a haven for wildlife, particularly butterflies, bees and birds? [where people can relax, pray or simply sit and enjoy the colour and beauty of Gods creations]

If so, please contact David Blakemore (www.davidblakemoreillustration.co.uk/davidblakemore.com). David is a trained garden designer and is keen on making gardens to reflect the natural beauty God has given us to enjoy. David is also keen to encourage our declining insect and bird life to swell in numbers, nationwide. . .

Please email him at daveygreenfields@gmail.com

There are over 250 species of bee in Britain, including honey bees, over 20 species of bumble-bees, and many solitary bee species. Bees are vital for pollinating our fruits and vegetables, and by pollinating wild flowers they are also key to the wider ecosystems of our towns and countryside. But bees are declining – some species of bumble-bee have become extinct, and many other species are on the danger list.

They causes are complex, but include the intensification of agriculture that leaves no room for the wildflowers on which bees feed; pesticides that harm bees and accelerate the decline of wildflowers; and the loss of important bee habitat to development. Climate change is a factor too – witness the impact on bees of the awful weather in 2012.

Friends of the Earth is running a campaign, the Bee Cause, which aims to press the government to make the bigger policy changes we need to halt bee decline, but also to give practical help to bees in our gardens, towns and villages. Friends of the Earth is giving away packets of wildflower seeds to anyone who can create a bee-friendly wildflower patch of 5m2 or more in a public place such as a park, school ground, workplace or village green. Several churchyards are already involved in this project, and FOE is keen to work with Eco-congregations to encourage more.

For more info on the campaign visit the Bee Cause website, and for an application form for seeds or any queries e-mail beeinfo@foe.co.uk or phone Quentin Given on 0207 566 1418.

Take a look at the Caring for God's Acre (CFGA) site as, in addition to the file listed below, there's lots of other useful information on there to help with managing churchyards.

Many of the Wildlife Trusts in England and Wales have support and guidance available to help churches improve their outdoor space for wildlife. See the attached document for contact details of your local Wildlife Trust as well as any specific projects/advice that they currently offer.

Even if there are no specific church-orientated projects in operation, the majority of Trusts will be happy to provide you with general information to get you started.

Contact your local group - they may be able to offer advice and/or help in managing your churchyard for conservation and biodiversity. Alternatively, or in addition, perhaps your church could offer volunteers regularly on other BTCV projects. You could link active management of your churchyard with health, and join the 'green gym' initiative of BTCV. 

Practical guidelines produced by St Albans Diocese for how to go about conservation managent of churchyards. Advice on legal requirements, sources of help and support.

Do you have an urban church? Could you plant some trees, and need advice and help? Maybe Trees for Cities could help you! Contact them on 020 7587 1320 to see if they can help in your area. They are working mostly in London, but not exclusively.

Have you thought about a community composting enterprise? You'll need to talk to the Community Composting Network based in Sheffield:

CCN, 67 Alexandra Road, Sheffield, S2 3EE

t. 0114 258 0483 or 0114 255 3720

The Dry Stone Walling Association has produced some helpful information about dry stone walls around churchyards. See the links above.

The British Lichen Society (BLS) answers the question what are lichens? and has a fact sheet about lichens and churchyards.

Do you have some glebe land which could be usefully used by local people as allotments?  St Barnabas in Queen Camel, Somerset did just that! Are you wanting to get involved with taking care of a piece of local land currently in need of attention? The National Society of Allotments and Leisure Gardeners Limited will provide information and guidance for running allotments and local allotment societies.

Or you could try FarmGarden, the Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens who specialise in community allotments. Or perhaps your church could stimulate the renewal of some local allotments under the Allotments Regeneration Initiative. 

Landshare is an online community that connects people and organisations with spare land to those who need land for growing. Churches can set up their own group on the website through which to share any land they have available and communicate with growers and helps. There are also case studies and pro forma legal documents and advice to help landowners and growers arrange their Landshare agreement, or you can discuss issues of sustainable food, and tips for good compost with the community of Landsharers.

Go to the Natural History Museum site to find your local native wild flowers - it's called the postcode plants database. Just put in your postcode!

Churchyards often present an opportunity for a variety of native wildflowers to grow. Learn more at Really Wild Flowers, a supplier of native British plants, bulbs and seeds.

Have a look at this excellent site with helpful section of guidance notes for those with responsibility for the churchyard. 

Your local Wildlife Trust may have some support for those managing churchyards. Have a look at the national site to find your local Wildlife Trust.

The primary vision of The Quiet Garden Movement is to initiate and resource a network of local opportunities for prayer, silence, reflection and the appreciation of beauty; for learning about Christian spirituality; and for experiencing creativity and healing in the context of God's love.

It fosters the provision of quiet spaces, small and large, creating sanctuaries of stillness and refreshment.

Could your churchyard be a quiet space in your locality?

Contact the Quiet Garden Trust for more help and information.

• David Manning: The Living Churchyard 2003
• N Cooper: Wildlife in Church & Churchyard: plants, animals & their management (2nd Edition Published by CHP 2001
• Anthony Foottit: A Gospel of wild Flowers Published by David & Charles  2006