UNIQUE SPACES

Churchyards have been termed a Noah’s Ark for old, veteran and ancient yews. A valuable refuge that over the years have provided a sanctuary for this historic and culturally significant tree. But there could be a threat to their long-term survival: ivy. The biodiversity value that ivy in trees provides to all sorts of wildlife is undisputed. From a nectar supply for bees and hoverflies to fruits and nesting habitats for a range of birds. However,… Read more: Ivy and Churchyard Yew Trees

Some of the oldest and most impressive monuments, from the pyramids at Giza to the passage grave at Newgrange in Ireland, are memorials for the dead. The humblest headstone in a country churchyard is part of a human impulse to immortalise those we have loved and lost which can be seen throughout time, all over the world. A wander through any burial ground is a stroll through the past of that community, like stepping between the… Read more: M is for Memorials

Yellow Rattle (Rhinanthus minor) is a true hero in the quest to restore and create wildflower meadows. This semi-parasitic annual attaches itself to neighbouring grasses through its root system, reducing the vigour of the grass. Where Yellow Rattle is present, you will notice that the grass is shorter and less dense. (It can reduce hay yields by up to 50 percent which is why farmers did not like it!) This reduction in grass density allows more… Read more: Yellow Rattle (Rhinanthus minor): A Key Player in Restoring Wildflower Meadows