Living Churchyards project

Grassland management is nearly always the most important aspect of churchyard management and can make a huge difference through encouraging native plants to grow which provide nectar for insects.

We recommend maintaining three different grass lengths in the summer months. Identify areas which can be left as long grass to create a wildflower meadow, areas where grass can be cut at a medium length and those areas which need a short close cut eg pathways. 

• Cut the long grass (30-40 cm) in May and September (although flexibility will be needed depending on growing conditions)
• Cut the medium length grass (15-25 cm) in May, June, August and October.
• Cut the short grass (5 cm) weekly or fortnightly.

After mowing, remove all cuttings to reduce the nutrient-richness of the soil which will enable wildflowers to thrive.

Hedges provide an important food source for wildlife and the perfect place for birds to nest. Ideally cut hedges between November and February and aim to leave some sections uncut each year.

Shrubs are also a valuable element in a churchyard providing a variety of habitats and food for wildlife. Our advice is to maintain individual native shrubs as well as those in hedges, only prune outside the bird nesting season from March to August and ideally replace non-native shrubs where possible over time. 

Gravestones are very important sites for a large range of different lichen and frequently mosses which offer great botanical interest. Wherever possible make sure that they are not disturbed or scrubbed as they do no harm to the stone, the exception being war graves.

Identify areas where ferns and other small plants that are only growing on walls or stonework. Ideally, we would like to see small cracks left to house invertebrates who pollinate plants, help break down and recycle organic material, and provide an important food source for lots of other animals. Alow some ivy which flowers in the autum providing an important but take care to keep this invasive plant under control.

Compost heaps and piles of deadwood provide the perfect habitats for insects and reptiles such as slowworms and toads. Plan to provide as many of these as possible in corners of the churchyard and behind buildings where they won't be disturbed.

Insect hotels, bird and bat boxes will make the world of difference to the wildlife in your churchyard. Simply install them and we're sure the wildlife will find them and be grateful for their new home. If you have volunteers who will maintain a bird feeder, that will attract more wildlife and provide another food source for local birds, particularly in the winter.

All wildlife need water and so providing a source of water in the churchyard is vital. It does not need to be large - a bird bath will do!

Let everyone know what's happening in the churchyard. Mount a simple display in the porch or inside the church showing what has been done and why. Notices beside the habitats will be a great help in explaining the reasons for the project with details about the wildlife-friendly approach to management and the native species with photographs to show what the species look like when not in flower. Sometimes people think that the churchyard is being neglected if they don't see it being mown as often but once they know it's to encourage wildlife, they might even follow the example in their own gardens.

Once they know what's happening, more members of the community might well like to get involved. Whoever is running the project should liaise with your Parochial Church Council and perhaps contact the local school and community groups to invite them to come and look around the churchyard or give a talk in the community space.