This June, St Mary’s Churchyard in Bishopstone took part in the national Churches Count on Nature initiative as part of Love Your Burial Ground Week.
We were delighted that children from Bishopstone CE Primary School joined the project, helping to discover and record the wildlife that makes our churchyard such a special place. Activities included bug hunts, plant identification and observational drawing, encouraging the children to look closely at the rich variety of nature around them.
The school’s gardening club has also shown great enthusiasm for supporting the churchyard through practical conservation activities, including plans for a bug hotel and ongoing care of the site.
Churchyards are often important havens for wildlife, providing homes for insects, birds, wildflowers and other species. By taking part in the Nature Count, local people of all ages can help us understand and celebrate the biodiversity that exists within these historic spaces.
We are grateful to everyone who has supported the project, including the staff and pupils of Bishopstone CE Primary School, volunteers from the village and those helping to care for St Mary’s Churchyard throughout the year.
