Discover and delight in what’s on our church doorstep(s)
Churches across all denominations in England and Wales can now register to participate in Churches Count on Nature, an annual scheme where people visit churchyards and record the plant and animal species they encounter.
Register here.
The 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, will take place from 8-16 June 2024.
In the last three years, 1300 counting events took place across churches in England and Wales, and over 47,555 wildlife records were submitted to Caring for God’s Acre. The data will be used to determine where different species are located in the country. This can aid churches of all denominations in increasing biodiversity on their land for the enrichment of the environment and local communities.
Churches Count on Nature is part of Love Your Burial Ground Week, open to anyone who loves nature and any church with land. We’re encouraging churches to connect with local schools, wildlife groups, and those who may not have visited before to discover their churchyards.
Could you engage with the natural world and take part in this churchyard wildlife count this summer? Count me in – explore further resources here, and then register your event here.
Hear some highlights and memorable moments from churches who took part last year:
“Watching the children get so excited at all they were finding”
“Just the sheer diversity we found in such a small spot that we thought we knew but didn’t!”
“Beautiful sunshine & spending quiet time in nature”
“A toad popped up where we were planting wildflower seedlings”
Impact on managing churchyards.
Churches shared how learning about the wildlife found in their churchyards changed how they think about their space and would manage it going forward:
“We have altered our mowing regime to leave uncut areas to encourage more nature”
“Being more observant, wildlife-friendly planting, making church grounds more accessible”
“We have created a wild area that is not mowed during the summer”
“An understanding of how wildlife in a churchyard is noted and appreciated alongside the formal tidiness of grave areas.”
“The more we record, the more we are aware of the interrelationship between species and that informs how we manage the churchyard.”
During Churches Count on Nature 2024, the Church of England Environment Programme with Caring for God’s Acre, will also run a special series of webinars on different aspects of land and nature. Find out about common species in your churchyards, such as swifts and bees; watch some great advice about ancient yew trees; hear from Bishop Graham Usher about the global Communion Forest initiative; and explore the relationship between oceans, science and faith. Explore the full webinar programme and register to attend here.
