Team Wilder: Churches

Grassland scene Team Wilder

Illustration by Al Boardman.

Team Wilder

Wilder Churches

Wilder Churches is a partnership between BBOWT and the Diocese of Oxford aimed at anyone interested in managing churchyards with wildlife in mind.

 
The Diocese of Oxford covers much the same boundary as BBOWT. There are over 800 churches, many with churchyards, cemeteries or gardens, hence they represent a wonderful opportunity for wildlife.

Alison Riggs, Environment Action Delivery Co-ordinator for the Diocese of Oxford, shares some wildlife-friendly actions and local case studies in the video below.

Churchyards are often the oldest enclosed piece of land in a parish and so many, having avoided ploughing, still support a rich variety of wildflowers and wildlife. These habitats often act as valuable stepping-stones for wildlife through urban or agricultural landscapes.

Churchyards also hold a wealth of built heritage and local history and offer a tranquil space for peace and quiet reflection. The Diocese encourages churches to explore simple ways to enable their churchyards to be a haven for wildlife, heritage, and people.

Urban red fox cub (Vulpes vulpes) in a cemetery

Urban red fox cub (Vulpes vulpes) in a churchyard by Terry Whittaker/2020VISION

Wildlife in your churchyard

Find out more
Map showing local burial grounds with species and biodiversity data

Nature near you

Species map

Inspiring stories

Churchyards are very special places that can be special for wildlife too. The churchyards of Chinnor United Parish are no exception, with volunteers in the Chinnor Churches Go Wild! group giving them a helping hand.

Each churchyard is unique and provides habitat for different plants and animals. Some have swifts nesting in the bell tower, while others have patches of long grass and wildflowers that are used by bees, butterflies and other pollinating insects. Small patches of rough ground, long grass, and compost heaps are perfect for slow worms and grass snakes, and the old trees in and around each churchyard provide food and shelter for birds, bats and many invertebrates.

Take action

Spring daffodils flowering in a churchyard

Diocese of Oxford

EcoHub
Churchyard bluebells and gravestones

Caring for God's Acre

Action pack
Ox-eye daisies flowering in a churchyard

A Rocha UK

Eco Church
A church poster with meadow graphic titled 'Wilder Churches: We're welcoming wildlife'

Wilder Churches poster

 
1. Click below to download the poster

2. Edit/delete text in the blue boxes

3. Print on paper or share by email

4. Promote your actions by adding a church pin on the Team Wilder map
 

Download poster

Add a map pin
 

Join Team Wilder

The things we can do to look after wildlife in churchyards are also things you can do in your wider community, helping make more space for nature, everywhere. Find help and support with our community toolkit, and add your actions for wildlife to the Team Wilder map.

 

College Lake wildlife garden volunteer group. Picture: Paul Simmons

College Lake wildlife garden volunteer group. Picture: Paul Simmons

Community Network Toolkit

Free resources
Team Wilder map showing actions for wildlife in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire

Add your actions for wildlife

Team Wilder map

Special thanks to