Parishes across England and Wales can now register to participate in Churches Count on Nature, an annual scheme where people visit churchyards and record the plant and animal species they encounter.
The biodiversity survey, supported by environmental charities A Rocha UK and Caring for God’s Acre, as well as the Church of England and the Church in Wales, will take place from from June 3 to 11, 2023.
In the last two years, 900 counting events took place across churches in England and Wales, and over 27,000 wildlife records were submitted to Caring for God’s Acre.
The data will be used to determine where rare and endangered species are located in the country and to aid churches of all denominations to increase biodiversity on their land for the enrichment of the environment and local communities. This year, species on some of the17,500 acres of churchyards in England alone will be mapped, with a further 1,282 acres of churchyards in Wales.
As churchyards are usually undisturbed and not used for farming, they can be host to a great variety of wildlife not seen in other green spaces, particularly in urban areas. Old churchyards often have fantastic flowery and species-rich grasslands as they have been so little disturbed over the centuries.
Churches Count on Nature is part of Love Your Burial Ground Week, which is open to anyone with a love of nature. Churches are being encouraged to connect with local schools, wildlife groups, and those who may not have visited before to discover their churchyards. This year’s survey is the first in three years to take place without Covid restrictions, so registered churches will hope to see an increased number of parishioners taking part in counting events. The count can serve not only to raise awareness and encourage care of the wildlife in churchyards but to provide local communities with a shared activity that can bring people together.
The Bishop of Norwich, Graham Usher, who is the Church of England’s Lead Bishop for Environmental Affairs, said: “We are very excited about large numbers of churches across the country signing up to take part in Churches Count on Nature again this year. This weekend, hundreds of thousands will watch Sir David Attenborough’s new documentary on wildlife in the British Isles. Registering for this initiative is a brilliant way for churches to encourage a local response and help to restore the natural habitats on our doorstep. The event will help us determine the level of biodiversity in our churchyards and will be a great opportunity to bring people of all ages together to appreciate the natural world. As I read the Gospels, I’m struck by just how much nature is noticed by Jesus. We can join with him in seeing our lilies of the field, the thistles in crops, and the birds of the air. As Christians, we have a responsibility to care for God's creation, and participating in Churches Count on Nature is just one way in which we can demonstrate that care.”
To register your church for this summer’s Churches Count on Nature click HERE.