Churches across all denominations in England and Wales can register to participate in Churches Count on Nature (CCoN), an annual event where people visit churchyards and record the plant and animal species they encounter.
This biodiversity survey, supported by environmental charities A Rocha UK and Caring for God’s Acre, as well as The Church of England and The Church in Wales, takes place from 6-14 June 2026. We’re encouraging churches to connect with local schools, wildlife groups and those in the local community who might not have visited before, to discover their churchyards.
Last year, more than 380 counting events took place, with an estimated 6,000+ participants joining in. There were events for adults, children and cross-generational groups, self-guided observations and sessions led by experts. An impressive 8,668 records were submitted, of 1,670 species! This helps to determine the distribution of these species and can help churches increase the biodiversity on their land and manage their land well .
Could you engage with the natural world and take part in this churchyard wildlife count this summer? Explore further resources here. Then register your event here.
Webinar programme
Throughout CCoN 2026, there will be a series of webinars over the five lunchtimes. This year’s programme covers a variety of topics including lichens, which plants work for which butterflies, nature in urban churchyards and engaging children and school groups with wildlife.
Check back here for the full webinar programme later in the year, when we’ll share the booking links.
Bradford Cathedral’s CCoN event in 2023. Photo Credit: Philip Lickley.
Highlights and memorable moments from those who took part last year
‘Seeing intergenerational exploration and teaching, with elderly members of the congregation engaging with children and telling them about different species’.
‘Being joined by a young man who, though registered blind, became our bird spotter by sound and enjoyed nature through touch and smell’.
‘Welcoming new people to our group.’
‘I think it’s a good reminder for us to stop, observe and appreciate the nature on our doorstep’.
It made a difference
Participating churches said that learning about the wildlife in their churchyards changed how they think about that space and how they will manage it in the future:
‘We have altered our mowing regime to leave uncut areas to encourage more nature’
‘We have created a wild area that is not mowed during the summer’
‘The more we record, the more we are aware of the interrelationships between species and that informs how we manage the churchyard’.
