Living Churchyards and Cemeteries

Churchyards can be rich wildlife havens.

The national 'Living Churchyards and Cemeteries' scheme wants local communities to get involved in the management of their churchyards for the benefit of wildlife as well as the local congregation, visitors and the bereaved.

Churchyards have many habitats which can be managed sympathetically for wildlife:

areas of grassland for wildflower meadows
patches of woodland, walls, hedges, shrubs
gravestones with rare or unusual lichen species.
sites can be further enhanced for wildlife by the provision of appropriately sited bird and bat boxes, and woodpiles.

Ideally an initial survey should be undertaken to establish what habitats and species already exist in the churchyard. A management plan should then be drawn up, based on what is required for different areas.

The Dorset scheme

The Dorset project started 12 years ago and over 100 parishes have since become involved, with around 30 taking part in the annual competition.

The competition has three sections: Best New Entry, Best Urban Churchyard and Best Managed Churchyard.

'Best Overall' receives a cash prize, kindly donated each year by the Bishop of Salisbury. All entrants receive attractive certificates for display.

Presentations are made at an annual meeting, with a speaker and forum for the interchange of ideas. An annual newsletter in March provides useful information, together with the programme for the year.

Judges will provide advice whilst meeting with interested parishioners in the course of their visits.

The Urban category is now extended to include areas outside of the Poole/Bournemouth conurbation (such as Dorchester and Weymouth).

The 'New Entry' section is open to any parish which has not entered since 2001, or which entered for the first time in 2006 or 2007.

Packs of information leaflets on different aspects of management for wildlife in churchyards are available from DWT for those starting out.

The judging will take place in June 2008 and the prize-giving will take place at Brooklands Farm on Saturday 11th October from 10am to 1pm.

Help needed

We are looking for new judges to help in 2008. In 2009 we will need a new project coordinator. For further information, please contact:

Dorset Wildlife Trust at 01305 264620
Email:
or
Revd. Michael Homewood, 01929 556216,
Email:

A bank planted with shrubs and flowering plants which will be attractive to butterflies and other insects, plus a bird feeding station at the Church of the Transfiguration, Canford Cliffs, Poole.

Milton Abbas Churchyard

Signs explaining the manage-ment in an area of Milton Abbas churchyard. Such information is important to explain to parishioners and visitors why certain management is taking place e.g. that long grass is not due to 'neglect'.

Bee Orchid at Holworth Church