In many parishes the churchyard constitutes the last relic of ancient pasture. It is one of the richest grassland habitats in the UK and one which is disappearing at an alarming rate, either under the regimes of modern farming or by bored residents wanting to “conserve” them.

There are around 10,500 medieval churchyards in England alone which equates to around 20,000 acres. We could lose many uncommon or rare species like the churchyard Yew (Taxua baccata) through interference or negligence. It is one of the sites of orchids and other grassland plants that have become scarce or even extinct in Suffolk. Eileen and I have visited lots of churchyards this past two years which has revealed total neglect, bowling green lawns to gross mis- management by well meaning conservation groups. It is not only churchyards that have been affected just look at the damage being done to Gunton and Corton Woods in north Lowestoft, by awful gardening.

Neglect causes harm by crowding out the smaller plants by rank growth normally caused by over spray of fertilisers from neighbouring fields or committees wrongly leaving it as a “Wildlife habitat” Just because it looks wild often it is not at all what is required to encourage wildlife particularly the survival of our ancient plants.

Observations through my consultancy work shows that mowing should commence late July after spring flowering plants have set seed and to cut again to six inches in mid August with a final close cut in late October. Over management epitomised by the church volunteer with his power tools inspired by the petrol fueled gardening gifts from family and friends causes dreadful damage by reducing flattened tombstones and grave stone areas to an arable desert only to tidy up afterwards with a huge foul smelling Bonfire!

Please keep our churchyards a wildlife friendly area and don’t take on conservation work unless trained.

You will see the affects of little and often but it has to be managed properly.

Colin A Jacobs

becclesnaturalist.blogspot.com