|
The value of Caring for Churchyard Wildlife
Churchyards - important havens for wildlife and
heritage
Churchyards provide important homes to a variety of
wildlife great and small. They are beautiful, tranquil places for
thought and reflection. Often they support species-rich grassland,
particularly old meadow land with many wildflowers, a habitat which has
sadly dramatically decreased in the wider landscape in the past 60
years.
Other wildlife can include ancient trees, lichens and
mosses on stonework, birds, butterflies and insects, amphibians and
reptiles as well as bats. The historic interest of churchyards including
monuments, preaching crosses, memorials and lych gates is of equal
interest and importance.
Managing with sympathy for wildlife
A churchyard managed with sympathy for wildlife can
look well cared for and be attractive to visitors, as well as plants and
animals. They often provide much potential for further encouraging
wildlife and bringing in local people to enjoy the churchyard’s beauty
and to join with others to help care for it.
Yet to ensure a sensitive approach to both the interests of people and
visitors to the churchyard, as well as its wildlife, before any changes
are made a number of things need to be considered. These will help you
to put together a churchyard management plan. It’s helpful to
bear in mind the following:
-
The churchyard should be attractive to both people
and wildlife & should present a cared for appearance
-
There should be easy access to church building &
tended graves
-
Any wildflower areas or tall grassland areas for
wildlife should be carefully chosen after a species survey and the
feasibility of management methods considered.
It’s important to remember that nurturing your
churchyard’s wildlife often means careful, sensitive management rather
than an absence of management.
|
