Churchyard Biodiversity and Heritage Project

Who we are

The Diocese of Coventry, in partnership with Warwickshire Wildlife Trust and Caring for God’s Acre, have been awarded funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to develop a Churchyard Biodiversity and Heritage Project within Coventry and Warwickshire.

This project seeks to protect, enhance and share the treasured green spaces, wildlife and heritage of churchyards within the diocese, and support local church councils to manage these special places with their local communities.

Project team:

Alison Wilkes – Project Manager
Frances Hall – Community Engagement and Development Officer
Sophie Smith – Biodiversity and Natural Heritage Officer
Contact us: churchyardproject@coventry.anglican.org

What's happening

Over the initial Development Phase, the project team are working with 10 churches and local communities across Coventry and Warwickshire, gathering ideas, organising wildlife surveys, working with schools and community groups and running events. Together we will create management and activity plans to maintain and enhance churchyards for nature, balancing needs of local users, site heritage and wildlife to create a bespoke approach for each site.

The project also has a number of research themes, looking at the management of short grass for maximum wildlife value, the value of churchyard habitats as soil carbon stores and churchyard visitors’ opinions of and relationships with nature.

After the initial year the project team will be submitting their report and application to The National Lottery Heritage Fund for a further five years of funding, for the Delivery Phase of the project in which we will be able to put agreed actions into place, continue delivering community work and repeat the process at another 40+ churchyards across the diocese.

As the project develops there will be plenty of opportunities to get involved by volunteering, attending events, or in sessions for your local school or community group or club.

Get involved!

There are lots of ways that you can get involved during our first year:

We are running lots of great events, from bat walks to family events to nature journalling! Check out the what’s on section below to find an event near you.
Get recording! Visit a churchyard and see what you observe. Upload your records to INaturalist [LINK] to share them with us, or email us your discoveries with the details below:

Where you saw the species - name of churchyard or cemetery
What you saw - as accurate a species name as possible
When you saw it - the date
Who you are - your name and ideally some contact details but name is the key thing
Please record nature responsibly and treat churchyards respectfully.

3. Do you have a special interest or expertise to share or just want to help out? Get in touch via email below.

What's on:

Nature Journaling

Spend an evening in nature and unleash your creativity
12th June, 7:30-9pm
St Edmund’s Churchyard, Shipston-on-Stour

Bioblitz in the Churchyard

Binoculars and magnifying glasses at the ready! Discover what wildlife is living in the churchyard! Part of Churchyards Count on Nature
14th June – 3-5pm
St James, Old Milverton

Heritage talk: Marks on Stone: Hidden Stories in Historic Church Graffiti with Claire Stratchen

27th June, 11am-12pm
St Marys, Astley

Links

Join our projects on INaturalist

Book onto our events on Eventbrite