Wildlife area in Cranfield Churchyard

The 'site' visit to the St Peter and St Paul churchyard last week to scope the possibility of a wildlife area was hugely enlightening and inspiring.   Judith Evans, Diocesan promoter of the Living Churchyard scheme, and Laura Downton from the Beds Wildlife Trust  came along on a gloriously sunny morning and took us through the possibilities.

There is, of course, some kind of folk myth around that this has been done before and it was disaster creating an unsightly jungle covering the entire churchyard. Well, I don't know about past experience but the aim, now,  is for a small distinct area which is left uncultivated for a set period - three months say - in the spring or summer to allow natural vegetation and flowers to take root offering sustenance to insects and wildlife. 

We showed Judith and Laura the area to the rear known historically and rather disturbingly as the 'plague pit'. If you think a wildlife area is going to be a monstrosity then this means you can hide it away. But Judith and Laura stressed that many churches which have wildlife areas make an eye catching feature of them. They gain the attention of  passers by who may not be church members or worshippers, and this could draw them in. In other words, it's outreach. We pointed out the lower school right opposite the church and Judith stressed how valuable schools find having a wildlife area nearby to enhance nature education. 

It doesn't have to be big. I paced out six yards and we envisaged that as a diameter of a circular area. This is not the state of Texas in territory. 

Judith has sent a helpful summary of what we covered and made clear that she would be happy to give a powerpoint presentation to the parish council the PCC or other groups about how the Living Churchyard scheme works. See below. All proposals are subject obviously to further discussion and ratification.



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The corner of the churchyard proposed by the Cranfield representatives consisted of mown grass with mainly lawn-type herbs. The area is triangular and surrounded on two sides by brambles, nettles and cow parsley.

o   The border of cow parsley, brambles and nettles is good for wildlife, particularly insects but the brambles also provide fruit for birds and nest sites.

o   The grassland herbs were daisy, dandelion, ragwort, self heal,  dock, ground ivy and buttercup

o   A small plant of burnet saxifrage (Pimpinella saxifrage) was discovered just outside this area after the meeting had finished. Burnet saxifrage is an indicator species of old unimproved grassland

The south and east sides of the churchyard had good communities of black knapweed (Centaurea nigra) and hoary plantain (Plantago media) both of which are indicator species of neutral and calcareous unimproved grassland. Additionally creeping buttercup, daisy dandelion yarrow, ribwort plantain and ground ivy were present.

Proposals

1.         It was suggested by Laura and Judith that an area on the south side approximately 5 yards x 5 yards be left uncut from the beginning of June this year for a period of 8 - 12 weeks to allow the knapweed and plantain to flower. These plants plus the taller grass will attract a number of insects, especially the brown butterflies such as Meadow Brown. At the end of the period the grass should be cut and the arisings removed. Mowing would then resume as for the rest of the churchyard.  

Initially the area would need to be marked by canes or something similar, but once there is a differential in height of the grass the canes should be removed. A neat notice should be provided so that visitors understand that this is a conservation/wild flower area. Further information about the management and plants aids visitors

to understand why the area looks different and allays criticism. Laura would be able to produce a poster similar to the attached if you are going to proceed with the scheme.

2.    Seed could be collected from the knapweed and plantain and either sown in seed trays and plants grown on to plant out in the triangular area that was first proposed as a wild flower area, or small areas of soil could be scraped bare and the seeds sown directly. The sowing of the seeds and growing in trays is likely to be the more successful and could perhaps be undertaken by children at the school.

3.    The triangular area could be left uncut for 8 weeks to see what plants flower but at present it is not likely to be as attractive or beneficial as the area suggested on the south side.

Laura and I would be happy to return in a couple of months to survey and review the wild flower area(s).

On walking round the churchyard after the meeting we noticed that the mower had scalped the grass at each turn at the church end of the mowing run in front of the church. It would be better if the mowers took a little more care as patches like this are likely to attract thistles and nettles.

See www.caringforgodsacre.org.uk for ideas on children’s activities in the churchyard.

I am happy to give my Powerpoint presentation on the Living Churchyard scheme to the PCC, PC or any other group.