Crosby churchyard is a wildlife haven

May 27 2010 by Jade Wright, Crosby Herald

St Luke’s Church in Crosby is preparing to celebrate Cherishing Churchyards Week this June, as part of the UN's International Year of Biodiversity.

The nationwide project is being run by conservation charity Caring for God's Acre (CfGA) and is supported by the C of E's national Environmental campaign Shrinking the Footprint.

There are an estimated 12,000 C of E churchyards. Many contain ancient pasture or woodland, and more and more of them are being managed sympathetically for their wildlife interest, either by the parochial church council or by teams of volunteers.

Around half of them already run biodiversity projects, in rural and urban areas, while remaining respectful to their users, particularly family and friends of those buried there.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, says: “All Christians have an important role to play in developing their own environmental awareness and encouraging it in others. This will prove invaluable for those looking to find a deeper theological understanding of our Christian concern for creation.”

On Saturday June 26, from 2-4pm, St Luke’s church is opening its grounds for a day of activities, including a bug safari, constructing hibernacula (habitat for toads and frogs), and a nature trail.

There will be tours around the various gardens that St Luke’s ‘groundforce’ team have developed over the past three years, including a community garden, garden for reflection, butterfly garden, wildflower meadows, bog garden, fruit garden and vegetable garden.

Ann Somers, member of St Luke’s groundforce team and co-ordinator of the celebrations says: “Our vision for St Luke’s grounds is to create a place of beauty and a haven for people and wildlife.

“We want to do all we can to encourage wildlife into our grounds and to raise people’s awareness of churchyards as a valuable resource.

“We’re delighted to welcome families to St Luke’s on June 26 to experience a different part of God’s creation.”

Pete Spiers, vicar of St Luke’s, adds: ‘The church has a particular responsibility to care for God’s creation.

“I want to make sure that St Luke’s is using its four and a half acres of grounds in ways which improve biodiversity.