St Andrews Churchyard

 

With support from community volunteers we have dedicated areas of this churchyard to conserving the wildlife and wildflower species which have been part of the churchyard for centuries.  Please have a look round and enjoy the variety of plants and trees that are planted and the habitats we have provided to encourage insects to thrive, to create feeding opportunities for birds and bats and to provide shelter for small mammals.  Churchyards are often the oldest enclosed piece of land in a parish and many still support a rich variety of wildlfowers and wildlife.

Did you know?

Over 97% of the UK’s wildflower meadow grasslands have been lost since WW2 greatly impacting on our landscape and wildlife.  For this reason, during the summer months the meadow areas around the older, less visited graves, are left to grow tall, allowing the plants to flower and set seed.  This provides pollen and nectar for bumblebees, butterflies and other insects, and brings vibrant colour to the churchyard.  At the end of the summer the grass is cut and taken away to help reduce the fertility of the soil, as wildflowers grow best where nutrient levels are low.  The grass at the front of the churchyard will be planted with wildflowers and will be kept shorter to provide a different habitat.  

Many of the trees have identification signs so you can learn more about them –  look up and you may see one of the many bird and bat boxes we have put up.

We have already received help from the Girl Guides in planting native bluebells and if you would like to join us on the maintenance team to tackle the larger growth and to beautify the grounds, do get in touch with one of our church wardens.  Alternatively you might wish to contribute to a specific fund we have set up for to hep with maintenance costs.

Do take a wander around the meadow areas and absorb the peace and spirituality of the churchyard.

St Andrew’s is part of the Wilder Churches & Burial Grounds project which began in March 2021 as a partnership initiative between Somerset Wildlife Trust and the Diocese of Bath and Wells.  The initiative supports communities to get to know the wildlife in their local churchyard and work together to find ways to increase the value of these special places for nature.

We were awarded a grant from the Wessex Water Foundation Environment Fund to support our work in this Churchyard.  The Environment Fund supports charitable and community activities across the region that have a positive impact on the local environment. The fund is part of the Wessex Water Foundation which provides dedicated funding for projects across the Wessex Water region every year.                                                          

 

 

 

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