There is no better opportunity to care for the natural world than looking after our churchyards, so close to our own doorsteps. This is an important part of caring for God’s Creation.
The Diocese’s principal vehicle for the care of churchyards is our long-term Churchyards for London programme.
There are almost 480 churchyards in the Diocese of London (about the same number as churches, but some churchyards are detached from any church, and some churches do not have churchyards).
Churchyards include graveyards, and any significant curtilage around a church. They also include numerous gardens. Many are managed by local authorities like small parks.
The day to day maintenance of most churchyards is devolved to local authorities, but ultimate responsibility – for example, for safety – rests with the legal occupier which is the the Parochial Church Council.
In partnership with the Dioceses of Southwark, Chelmsford and Rochester, the Diocese of London has developed a project to survey the fauna and flora, habitats and ecology of churchyards across Greater London.
This survey is called ‘Churchyards Ecology Survey’, and is Phase A of a longer term project under the banner ‘Churchyards for London’.
AECOM Infrastructure and Environment UK Ltd are the appointed ecologists to the project.
A scoping study of all 998 churchyards and church gardens across Greater London was undertaken. Of these, 556 are of non-negligible size and have some green space or trees. This work was followed by detailed desk study work, and a series of visits. Pending further funding, more of this work remains to be completed.
Phase B, projected to follow our Churchyards Ecology Survey, is to include three themes:
After research which was generously supported free of charge by the London Records Centre, Greenspace Information for Greater London (GiGL), an initial sample of 50 sites was selected for more detailed study. This sample was later expanded to 90 churchyards, from all round Greater London.
Fifteen churchyard sites were visited in 2013, 10 more were visited in 2014, then 6 more in 2015 – 31 sites visited so far. 25 more visits are projected, funding permitting.
Specialist surveys of birds and bats have also been undertaken, by Dr Alison Fairbrass of University College London, with bird IDs by Andy Lester of A Rocha UK.
Lichens have been surveyed by Ishpi Blatchley of the British Lichen Society.
Already we have learned that:
Further analysis of information gained is being collated.
Interim reports were made to parishes following the visits from 2013 to 2015.
A major report is then planned on the whole project.
Funding is being sought for remaining work. £60K is the target for the surveys and reports.
Works affecting trees in churchyards are permissible depending on which of two lists they come under.
Guidance from the Church Buildings Council should be followed. The Diocesan Advisory Committee should be consulted, via the Parish Property Support Team.
Major works involving trees in any churchyard will still require faculty permission, same as other works to a church or churchyard.
In July 2015, a major conference on our churchyards took place in St John’s Wood Church. This was organised in partnership with the national charity Caring for God’s Acre.
Presentations from the day may be downloaded from this page, below.
A first report on this project was published in British Wildlife Magazine in October 2018. A copy may be obtained from the Head of Environment and Sustainability.
Environment and Sustainability, front page.
Head of Environment and Sustainability.
Parish Property Support Team.
Faculties, changes and repairs.
Wildlife, ecology and biodiversity
Churchyards and Wildlife
Trees in Churchyards.
Greenspace Information for Greater London (GiGL)
British Lichen Society
British Wildlife Magazine.
