Advice Sheets for Download

Few places can be more evocative of the past than churchyards, but they can also contain real detailed evidence of past life, human and other.

In archaeological terms, a churchyard may contain buried evidence of earlier human use of the site generally; as some sites may have pre-Christian origins, such continuity of use may span many centuries. There may be buried remains of structures, paths, boundaries and other features which can throw light on the history and develop­ment of the church building itself. Historic burials can provide information about past funerary practices and human remains can reveal information about diet, disease and other aspects of human life.

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Archaeology and History

When we think of a churchyard what comes into mind? If we see only a landscape with tombstones, an abode of the dead, then we are missing by far the greater part of what these very special places can tell us.

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The Sacred Space

The benefits of good interpretation 

• Enhances people's visits 
• Generates support and positive word of mouth advertising 
• Can influence and change attitudes 

Interpretation is not the “teaching” of facts or academic instruction.  Interpretation is a way of communicating which is enjoyable and entertaining, meaningful and organized with clear themes so that the audience will take notice and become engaged in the place they are visiting.

Remember who your best teachers were. These teachers were interpreters, communicating in a way that captured attention and imagination and helped you to remember and understand. 

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Interpretation

A churchyard or burial ground may well be older than the building it surrounds and possess its own unique treasures, in need of cherishing. 

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The Five Steps in a Churchyard & Burial Ground Management Project

In gardens, churchyards and public-open spaces cutting is usually the method used for the management of grassland.

Improving the care of grassland for conservation may only mean a slight change in cutting times and methods.

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Management of Churchyard Grassland for Conservation

A greater variety of stonework can be found in the churchyard than anywhere else in a parish. The stonework includes the walls of the church itself, the monuments and memorials, paths and boundary walls.

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Stonework & Walls in Churchyards

In unpolluted churchyards, lichens often from mosaics of colour, especially on the stonework, adding to the character and interest of the site.  They vary in form from simple, powdery scaterings and crusts to more elaborate leafy or even bushy structures.

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Lichens in Churchyards

In days gone by, fungi were a puzzle. As toadstools appeared overnight they were taken to be the work of “dark powers”. It wasn’t until the 18th century and the development of the microscope that the mystery was solved. The mushrooms or toadstools were packed with tiny spores – seed of the fungus.

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Fungi in Churchyards & Burial Grounds

Birds require a habitat that will provide food, shelter and a place to breed. Not all churchyards will provide all these requirements and some will only be available at certain times of the year e.g. berries and fruit.

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Birds in the Churchyard

Bees, wasps and ants, of which there are 570 species, all belong to one family of insects.  

Unfortunately all these insects are generally regarded as either a nuisance or positively dangerous and people seek to destroy them.

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Bees, Wasps & Ants in Churchyards

To create the kind of world we want for ourselves and for our children we need to consider what we do, how we do it and what effect it will have on other people and the environment. This is called being sustainable.

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Sustainability

Churches and churchyards play an important role in helping to protect our native bats.
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Churchyards and Bats

Churches and churchyards can provide a good habitat for small mammals, and some of the larger and more unusual mammals will visit occasionally.
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Churchyards & Mammals

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Caring for Trees in Churchyards

Tree Management Information

Veteran Trees

A Special Case for the Yew tree

Dead Wood

Hedges in Churchyards

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Managing Churchyards for Reptiles & Amphibians

Churchyards are valuable and inspirational places for children to explore the natural, built and cultural heritage.

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Activities for Young People

Parochial Church Councils (PCCs) have a responsibility to ensure that the churchyard is as safe as is reasonably practicable and to seek to stop accidents from happening. They must also comply with appropriate legislation, maintain records and thereby be in a position to defend claims if needed.

Risk assessment is a useful tool for assessing the likelihood and severity of a hazard and identifying risks that must receive priority attention. It also provides a good record of churchyard hazards and the safety measures being implemented. Risk assessments should also be undertaken if the PCC or a group are running a churchyard event or work party.

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Health & Safety in churchyards

Managing your churchyard in a way that is sensitive to both wildlife and people brings with it tasks that are varied and interesting. These may range from creating compost heaps, putting up bird and bat boxes, finding out what species of wildflowers there are, scything meadow areas, dry stone walling and tree pruning etc.

Although taking on the overall responsibility of managing the churchyard is more than what many people can take on, often they are happy to volunteer for work parties.

In order to get a healthy team of volunteers together and maintain enthusiasm and momentum it is helpful to understand 1) some of the barriers to people volunteering, 2) how to attract volunteers and 3) how to keep them.

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Attracting Volunteers