St John the Baptist's Church, Carhampton, Somerset. Photo: Robert Cutts
Wilder Churches
Supporting communities to get to know the wildlife in their local churchyard, other church land or burial grounds.
Wilder Churches
Wilder Churches began in March 2021 as a partnership initiative between Somerset Wildlife Trust and the Diocese of Bath and Wells. The initiative aims to support communities to get to know the wildlife in their local churchyard, other church land or burial ground and work together to find ways to increase the value of these special places for wildlife.
Churchyards are often the oldest enclosed piece of land in a parish and many still support a rich variety of wildflowers and wildlife, having remained unscathed from the widespread loss of habitats seen in the wider countryside due to changing land management practices. The Diocese of Bath and Wells oversees 477 parishes of over 900,000 people in the county and are working with us to bring communities and church leaders together to learn more about their churchyard or burial ground and how they can manage them with wildlife in mind.
Richard Montagu, Long Sutton Quaker Meeting House
Richard Montagu, Long Sutton Quaker Meeting House
Hannah Paddison
Libby Nye
St John the Baptist's Church, Brewham - Libby Nye
Libby Nye
Elizabeth Atkinson
Emily Feldberg
Caroline Thronycroft
Bridget Wadey
Chris Billinghurst
Gill Palmer
Gill Palmer
Rob Ladd
Rob Ladd
Carole Perrott
Jen Richards
Sue Carpenter
Churchyard survey at St James Church. Image: Sue Carpenter
Liz Hamilton
Liz Hamilton
Resources
In order for nature to recover, we need many more people on nature’s side. The science shows that if just one person in every four (25%) visibly takes action, this can be enough to change the minds and behaviour of the majority. By taking visible action for nature, no matter how small, you can make an impact and invite more wildlife back into our lives.
Key to the Wilder Churches initiative is the ongoing support provided to anyone and everyone interested in being involved. Free online training sessions and get-togethers are supporting communities to take positive action in churchyards and other burial grounds at a pivotal time for nature. See below for more resources and advice to help get you started.
Webinar recordings
Welcoming new communities
In this session held in Spring 2022, we welcomed new communities to the Wilder Churches initiative - so if you are wanting to know what the initiative is all about, watching this session is a great place to start!
An introduction to Wilder Churches
This is the first session in a series of online training and guidance. It took place in March 2021 and provides an introduction to the initiative and why churchyards and other burial grounds can be such special places for wildlife as well as for people.
Exploring the wildlife in your churchyard and engaging the community
This is a recording of the second event in a series of free ‘Wilder Churches’ online training and support. This session focuses on getting to know your churchyard with wildlife in mind, with advice and support on discovering the current value of your churchyard for wildlife, a vital first step in helping biodiversity in these special places.
The event also provides advice ways to communicate about Wilder Churches in your community and encourage others to join in, together with guidance on how to find out the key information about your churchyard and how it is currently managed. Catch up on the video and if you are interested, please let us know and get involved in your community!
Increasing the value of your churchyard for wildlife
In this session, Pippa Rayner, the Trust's Engaging with Nature Coordinator, provides advice and support on potential beneficial actions for wildlife in your churchyard, other church land or burial ground. This includes examples of what some communities have already achieved in their local churchyard and what they have learnt along the way.
Emma Brown, Church Buildings Adviser for the Diocese also provides information on things to consider when planning to take action for wildlife in your churchyard and how to get in touch for detailed guidance. Ensuring everyone in your community has a chance to share their ideas and thoughts on how the churchyard is cared for is also really important. Pippa suggests ways to consult your community and together identify actions for wildlife that work for your community and the church.
Creating a management plan
In this session, Pippa Rayner, the Trust's Engaging with Nature Coordinator, provides advice on creating a simple, practical management plan for your churchyard, other church land or burial ground that outlines how the churchyard is being cared for with nature in mind and why, as well as ways people can help.
Sara Emmett (Assistant Diocesan Environment Officer) from the Diocese of Bath and Wells also provides advice on potential sources of funding and other ways to help with any financial costs that can arise from changing management or creating habitats as part of your plan, particularly at the start.
Sharing stories
In this session we hear from communities across Somerset, who share their stories of the wildlife they have discovered, the actions they have taken and what they plan to do in the future in their local churchyard or burial ground.
Pippa Rayner, the Trust’s Engaging with Nature Coordinator, also suggests key things to think about that will help you to look forward to the year ahead and plan your next steps for helping wildlife.
Pippa’s role is partly funded by the Torr Works Environmental Enhancement Fund, created by a Section 106 agreement (planning obligation) between Aggregate Industries UK Ltd and Somerset County Council.
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