Ecological summary
Burial grounds are fantastic places for biodiversity, often containing species rich grassland which was once widespread in the UK. The walls and monuments create habitat for amphibians, reptiles, small mammals and invertebrates as well as ferns, mosses and liverworts. Of the 2,000 lichen species in the UK, 700 are found in churchyards with a third of these rarely found elsewhere. Check for thrushes feeding on yew berries and swifts and bats under the eaves.
Caring for God's Acre is a national charity dedicated to supporting those managing burial grounds for conservation and heritage purposes. More information on the support offered can be found on their website here: https://www.caringforgodsacre.org.uk. To view the occurrence records in this burial ground click on the View records button underneath the map.
Caring for God's Acre is a national charity dedicated to supporting those managing burial grounds for conservation and heritage purposes. More information on the support offered can be found on their website here: https://www.caringforgodsacre.org.uk. To view the occurrence records in this burial ground click on the View records button underneath the map.
Ancient & Veteran Trees
The UK holds a globally important population of veteran and ancient yew trees of which three-quarters are found in the churchyards of England and Wales. There are about 800 of these ancient and veteran yews, aged from 500 to several 1,000 years old, with no known upper age limit. Burial grounds may contain veteran trees of other species.
Burial grounds may also contain veteran trees of other species, acting as hosts to a wealth of associated plants, animals, lichen and fungi.
Burial grounds may also contain veteran trees of other species, acting as hosts to a wealth of associated plants, animals, lichen and fungi.
Bats and Swifts
Bats – Bats use both the buildings and also the mature and veteran trees within burial grounds to roost, breed and overwinter. These places are relatively unchanging and so populations may have built up over centuries. In addition, bats may forage and feed over the grassland and other vegetation, taking advantage of the wide variety of insect species to be found.
Swifts – The eaves, roofs, towers and steeples of historic churches and chapels, combined with the space around them for accessing nooks and crannies make burial grounds excellent for nesting swifts. These buildings are relatively unchanging and so populations may have built up over centuries. Nests are hard to find and so surveying is crucial for good management.
Swifts – The eaves, roofs, towers and steeples of historic churches and chapels, combined with the space around them for accessing nooks and crannies make burial grounds excellent for nesting swifts. These buildings are relatively unchanging and so populations may have built up over centuries. Nests are hard to find and so surveying is crucial for good management.
[counting] species
This map contains both point- and grid-based occurrences at different resolutions
Datasets
datasets have provided data to the NBN Atlas Beautiful Burial Grounds for this place.
Browse the list of datasets and find organisations you can join if you are interested in participating in a survey for this place.
Other Heritage Information
- Archaeological Data Service visit website
- Explore Churches visit website
- Find an Archive visit website
- Historic Environment Records (England) visit website
- Historic Environment Records (Wales) visit website
- Church Heritage Record (England) visit website
- Church Heritage Cymru (Wales) visit website
- People's Collection Wales visit website
| Group | Species |
|---|
[counting] species
This map contains both point- and grid-based occurrences at different resolutions
Types
Specimens
Images
Misidentified
| Taxa | No. of records | Most recent record |
|---|---|---|
| Ranunculus acris (Meadow Buttercup) | 1 | 1998 |
| Rhynchostegiella tenella (Tender Feather-moss) | 1 | 2009 |
| Rhynchostegium confertum (Clustered Feather-moss) | 1 | 2009 |
| Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus (Springy Turf-moss) | 1 | 2009 |
| Rumex acetosa (Common Sorrel) | 1 | 1998 |
| Scaeva pyrastri | 1 | 2025 |
| Senecio vulgaris (Groundsel) | 1 | 1998 |
| Streblotrichum convolutum | 2 | 2009 |
| Symphytum orientale (White Comfrey) | 1 | 1998 |
| Tanacetum parthenium (Feverfew) | 1 | 1998 |
| Tortula acaulon (Cuspidate Earth-moss) | 1 | 2009 |
| Tortula muralis (Wall Screw-moss) | 1 | 2009 |
| Tortula protobryoides (Tall Pottia) | 1 | 2009 |
| Urtica dioica (Common Nettle) | 1 | 1998 |
| Veronica chamaedrys (Germander Speedwell) | 1 | 1998 |
| Veronica hederifolia (Ivy-leaved Speedwell) | 1 | 1998 |
| Vespula vulgaris (Common Wasp) | 1 | 2017 |
| Viola odorata (Sweet Violet) | 1 | 1998 |
| Volucella pellucens | 1 | 2025 |
| Zacladus geranii (Meadow Cranesbill Weevil) | 1 | 2024 |
View list of all
occurrence records for this place ([counting] records)
View map of all
occurrence records for this place ([counting] records)
Charts showing breakdown of occurrence records ([counting] records)
| Data sets | Licence | Records |
|---|