Churchyard Conservation Project

 

When I wandered around the churchyard in the spring of 2004 a small seed was sown as it struck me just how many wild flowers enjoyed life there. Meadow Saxifrage, Lady’s Bedstraw and Ox Eye Daisies to mention just a few. Further research showed that many churchyards, both urban and rural are now managed as small wildlife reserves.

 

The Upper Waveney Project already manages a small conservation area in the churchyard and I then discovered that the Norfolk Wildlife Trust had coincidentally undertaken a survey in early June which showed a wide variety of insects and flowers taking refuge.  They had identified over 30 species of flowering plant, in particular a sizeable population of Meadow Saxifrage.  Now rare in the wild it was once a common pasture flower. We have also been told that Bee Orchids appear every few years as well.

 

The ground at All Saints has probably been enclosed for as long as the church has stood here and is thus a remnant of ancient grassland. It is an unfortunate fact that 98% of traditional pasture has disappeared in the last 30 years and in Norfolk 50% of the population of the county’s flowers live almost exclusively in churchyards.

 

Supported by Friends of Thorpe Abbotts Church (FOTAC) and with the advice offered by the Norfolk Wildlife Trust and financial support from our local Parish Council, we have re-established the area as a small wildlife haven for both plants and animals. This involved cutting and removing all of this season’s grass, to open up the sward to encourage all the seeds that may have been lying dormant for years. The grass heap (home of slow worms, hedgehogs and all manner of over wintering insects) is growing ever larger!

 

 In July 2005 Stella Taylor came up to undertake a plant survey and found there to be over 100 species of wild flowers and grasses over the 5 conservation areas. For a copy of the survey click here.

 

 

Update

 

I wandered around the churchyard at the begriming of February and found the first stirrings of spring with the winter aconite going over along with the Turkish Snowdrops. The meadow saxifrage is begining to come through and the first lesser celandine is in flower. Opposite are a few pictures I took when up there.  I always do an article for our village paper, the Mardler, so if you would like to have a look at my last article click here.

 

Simon