Article on Caring for God’s Acre in the Guardian Christmas 2024

Over Christmas we were delighted that the Guardian printed an article about the value of churchyards as “vital havens for rare wildlife including dormice, bats and beetles”.

The article, by environment reporter Helena Horton, focused on Caring for God’s Acre’s partnerships with the National Biodiversity Network and many other conservation organisations. As well as specialist recorders identifying rarities the article highlighted the massively valuable records submitted by the 30,000 or so people who have visited their local churchyards and recorded all the nature they have found.

As our Director Harriet Carty said “The records show that over a quarter of the species documented are on the Red List, with more than 80 species classified as threatened, vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered. This includes species such as the dormouse, white-letter hairstreak, shepherd’s-needle and eagle’s claw lichen.”

This is an amazing volunteer contribution, a big thank you is due to everyone who contributes records either through Love your Burial Ground Week/Churches Count on Nature or all year round!