Thriving Life in the Burial Grounds: Exploration of Wildlife's Adaptation to Graveyards and Churchyards in Britain
In a remarkable initiative, churchyards across Britain are being transformed from quiet memorial spaces into thriving ecosystems, thanks to a growing movement that recognizes their potential as vital refuges for wildlife and plant species.
At the forefront of this movement is the conservation charity, **Caring for God's Acre**. The organisation, which is dedicated to the protection and care of churchyards and burial grounds, views these spaces as important biodiverse patches of land, often serving as a "Noah's Ark of species" [1]. Harriet Carty, the director of the organisation, explains, "Churchyards act as a vital refuge for a variety of wildlife and plant species that might otherwise struggle to survive in more intensively managed landscapes."
Caring for God's Acre is making a significant impact in churchyards across the country. By promoting biodiversity, conservation advocacy, and educational outreach, the charity is helping to preserve these natural habitats and transform them into living landscapes that support wildlife [2].
In places like the churchyard of St Michael's in Lichfield, Staffordshire, local botanist Ray Allen led a working party to improve biodiversity, creating a haven for creatures such as hedgehogs, slow worms, and spotted flycatchers [3]. Similarly, in the East Riding of Yorkshire, a combination of parish councillors, the local authority, and wildlife enthusiasts is reviving the churchyard of St Mary's in Beverley.
Signs and folders with information about flora and fauna are increasingly common in churchyards, making them educational spaces as well as tranquil havens. Every June, Caring for God's Acre coordinates 'Love your Burial Ground Week', which includes activities like guided Nature and history walks, school projects, and community picnics [8].
The Right Revd Graham Usher, Bishop of Norwich and the Church of England's lead bishop for the environment, is a prominent advocate for this movement. Upon taking up his post in 2019, he brought 100,000 bees with him and has a four-acre private garden that he shares with groups from inner-city schools and uses for fundraising events. He keeps bees, grows food with minimal food miles, and celebrates the joy of God's creation in his garden [6].
Dr Pippa Rayner, a grassland ecologist and the Wilder Projects coordinator for Somerset Wildlife Trust, is another key figure in this movement. She focuses on churchyards as a valuable resource for biodiversity, working with the Diocese of Bath and Wells to manage grassland, provide food and shelter for small mammals, and make wildlife corridors in churchyards [5].
Laura Parker, a countryside writer living in the Cotswolds, is another supporter of this movement. She keeps a small flock of Shetland sheep and contributes to various publications, including The Clearing and the Dundee Courier.
As more people recognise the value of churchyards as biodiverse patches of land, these spaces are being revitalised and preserved for future generations to enjoy. With organisations like Caring for God's Acre leading the way, these sacred grounds are not only serving as memorials but also as thriving ecosystems that contribute positively to local environmental health and biodiversity conservation.
1.The conservation charity, Caring for God's Acre, perceives churchyards and burial grounds as vital biodiverse patches, often acting as a "Noah's Ark of species."
- By encouraging biodiversity, conservation advocacy, and educational outreach, home and garden spaces, such as churchyards, can be transformed into thriving environmental-science sanctuaries that support a variety of wildlife and plant species.
