26 BCD SPECIAL REPORT ON HISTORIC CHURCHES 31st ANNUAL EDITION species such as clovers, selfheal, yarrow, speedwell, trefoils, ground ivy and bedstraws, can be mown and raked every four to eight weeks between May and October. These are all plants which are adapted to cope with wild grazing and they will reflower easily. ‘This is a way to support a concentration of floral diversity in the form of a wildflower meadow,’ Mark says. Where possible, areas around the boundaries or those spaces that are less visited ought to be left as rough grassland and not be mown at all over winter. ‘Every few years you may need to remove saplings or encroaching scrub or brambles,’ Mark says, ‘but do so on rotation and don’t disturb the tussocks.’ These habitats become vital areas of sanctuary for small mammals, amphibians, reptiles and insects – not just over winter, but as shady places in the heat of summer too. WORKING TOGETHER For a biodiverse environment to sustain itself, then, all parts must work together, and this includes the community that makes up the church itself. Balancing the needs and expectations of church visitors and the local community with the management and maintenance of a biodiverse churchyard need not bring conflict; however, it does require a careful approach based on respectful listening and a mutual willingness for all parties involved to learn more about what a truly biodiverse patch of land might look like. The shifting of the seasons and the ever-changing populations of species in and around the churchyard should become part of the life of the church itself and one more strand in the story it weaves for itself through the generations. Where to go for further help A Rocha UK, www.arocha.org.uk Caring for God’s Acre, www.caringforgodsacre.org.uk The Wildlife Trusts, www.wildlifetrusts.org The Bat Conservation Trust, www.bats.org.uk The British Lichen Society, www.britishlichensociety.org.uk Buglife, www.buglife.org.uk Plantlife, www.plantlife.org.uk AUTUMN BARLOW works on National Lottery Heritage Funded community projects at The Wildlife Trusts, including Nextdoor Nature and Coronation Gardens for Food and Nature, which seek to encourage everyone to take small actions for nature: abarlow@wildlifetrusts.org A barbastelle bat flying at night: bats are sometimes considered disruptive and are heavily protected by law. (Photo: Frank Greenaway/Sussex Wildlife Trust) sources of water. While birds and mammals need to drink, so do insects. Collecting rainwater is the most sustainable way to do this, with the added benefit that well-maintained downspouts and guttering will protect the fabric of the building itself. Bats Perhaps one of the most commonly associated species with churches and churchyards, at least in the popular imagination, is the bat. Between 2019 and 2023, the Bats in Churches project surveyed 753 churches across England and found evidence of bats in 55.8 per cent of them. Bats, however, can be a contentious issue. The survey found over 100 churches where bats were considered to be disruptive: their droppings and urine causing smell, a heavy cleaning burden and damage to historic artefacts. Bats and their roosts are highly protected by law and this can impact on how a church can put mitigation into place but the Bats in Churches project developed ways to help church communities to live more easily alongside their bat populations. These alterations range from false ceilings to trays beneath roosts, to blocking access from the roost to the main building and can even include fitting new roost boxes. However, works at this scale need faculty permission from the diocese. If bats are already living in the church, or move in as the biodiversity of the area is improved, expert advice can be sought from the Bats Conservation Trust which can help prevent any problems before they arise. Yews and other trees Another ubiquitous species of the classic churchyard is the yew tree. These ancient landmarks provide homes for many dozens of species, from bats and red kites to the rare high brown fritillary, considered the most threatened butterfly in Britain. Research from the Woodland Trust suggests that it is best to trim hedgerows on a three-yearly rotation, which then produces twice as many flowers, pollen and nectar and much more wild fruit. Grassland Mark Schofield advises that grassy areas are mown to a range of heights. Paths for access may need to be trimmed weekly during the growing season. A lawn area, resplendent with local wildflower species as well as the more ubiquitous
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