We are very fortunate in Woodnewton that our churchyard contains some rare unimproved limestone grassland habitat that supports a diversity of native plants and animals now scarce in the county.
In recent years, the churchyard has been very closely managed and intensive cutting has not enabled this habitat to flourish. With careful management the churchyard has the potential to be much richer in wildlife and to become a valuable and valued resource for the village community.
Our objective with this project is to increase the opportunities for wildlife in the Woodnewton churchyard and cemetery to benefit both biodiversity and the village community, making them richer in wildlife and more attractive to villagers – a place to visit, to pause and to contemplate.
Our Management Plan
Our proposals are based on expert knowledge of grassland and other habitats and their management. We have taken advice from local experts and other churches managing their churchyards in a similar way.
Reduced mowing and strimming - we have already introduced a new mowing management regime for both the churchyard and cemetery with the aim of increasing opportunities for wildlife.
Management of defined wilding zones – create areas of longer grass and encourage native plants.
Community Involvement – the mowing regime is covered by our contractors, who are working to our plans for the main grassed area; however, we would encourage volunteers to assist with the management of the zones set out for wilding once they have been established. If you are interested in becoming involved please do contact us at woodnewtonpc@gmail.com.
A copy of the Management Plan is available to download below.
Woodnewton Churchyard & Cemetery Rewilding Management Plan
Woodnewton churchyard re-wilding project spring update
This spring we started our exciting re-wilding project to make the churchyard and cemetery better places for wildlife and villagers alike. Many other villages are seeking ways to increase biodiversity, and a re-wilding landscape garden even won Best in Show at the Chelsea Flower Show last month.
The first stage is to cut the all the vegetation in the churchyard and cemetery less often and to leave longer grass in some areas. This will encourage native plants in these re-wilding areas to flower and set seed. We can already see how this is improving the churchyard. By the roadside gate, plants are flowering in profusion – especially the mouse-ear-hawkweed and hoary plantain, along with the grasses. The yellow flowers of creeping cinquefoil and lady’s bedstraw will appear soon. These are all plants typical of unimproved limestone grassland, the special feature of our churchyard. Hopefully you will have noticed a difference. We have also identified two kerbed graves where we will be increasing the wildlife interest. We will be monitoring the churchyard and cemetery through the summer and adjusting the management as necessary.
if you want to know more about our re-wilding and get involved in the project, or just to let us know what you think of progress so far please contact Woodnewton PC woodnewtonpc@gmail.com.