You may notice that some parts of the Churchyard lawns are now left uncut for much of the year. This is part of a commitment of St Mary’s to become an Eco Church and of the Town Council and the Attleborough Bloomers to improving biodiversity in our open spaces. To learn more, read on!
Eco Church
In March 2023 St Mary’s Parochial Church Council committed itself to becoming part of the A Rocha UK Eco Church award scheme. Eco church is A Rocha UK’s award scheme for churches in England and Wales who want to demonstrate that the gospel is good news for God’s earth. The Diocese of Norwich encourages its parishes to enter the scheme, with the Bishop of Norwich, Graham Usher, the Church of England’s lead Bishop on the environment.
The scheme rates the efforts of churches in expressing their care for God’s world in their worship and teaching, care for their buildings and land, in their community and wider engagement, and in the lifestyles of their congregations. Depending on progress to more ecologically friendly goals, the scheme awards Bronze, Silver and Gold levels.
Under the leadership of James Trounce, a member of the congregation, St Mary’s achieved its Bronze Award in October 2023. It is now working towards Silver Award.
St Mary’s Churchyard
The substantial churchyard at St Mary’s was long ago decommissioned as a burial site, except for the burial of cremated remains. As such it is laid out as a park for all Attleborough residents and maintained by the Town Council and the Attleborough Bloomers. It is also used for Church events, such as the annual Fete and Artisan Markets in the summer.
As part of the Eco Church project the Town Council, Attleborough Bloomers and St Mary’s Church community are working together to improve its biodiversity. For this purpose a project group was set up in April 2023 to help coordinate efforts.
In addition, The Norfolk Wildlife Trust was asked to conduct a survey of the churchyard in order to assess it for biodiversity and make recommendations to improve this. Their report recommended the creation of conservation areas.
Conservation areas
The main conservation area - which will be mowed only once a year in July - is in the area immediately to the East of the Church. It contains a rare, churchyard-specific plant species called Lady’s Bedstraw, as well as other species which thrive in churchyards if undisturbed. It is marked out with posts.
In order to provide more sanctuary for wildlife (particularly insects and birds), the peripheral areas behind tombstones running around the South Eastern edges of the churchyard will be left uncut until October each year. The area immediately to the East of the Church Hall will also be left uncut to encourage wildlife.
At the same time, the Attleborough Bloomers have kindly committed to continuing their care for the rose garden in the churchyard and the area running along the side of the Griffin Pub. They plan to plant more pollinator attracting species as recommended by the Norfolk Wildlife Trust.
Together we hope to maintain the Churchyard as a beautiful open space for all the community, as well as a place where plants, insects and other wildlife can thrive for the good of the planet!
Eco Church
In March 2023 St Mary’s Parochial Church Council committed itself to becoming part of the A Rocha UK Eco Church award scheme. Eco church is A Rocha UK’s award scheme for churches in England and Wales who want to demonstrate that the gospel is good news for God’s earth. The Diocese of Norwich encourages its parishes to enter the scheme, with the Bishop of Norwich, Graham Usher, the Church of England’s lead Bishop on the environment.
The scheme rates the efforts of churches in expressing their care for God’s world in their worship and teaching, care for their buildings and land, in their community and wider engagement, and in the lifestyles of their congregations. Depending on progress to more ecologically friendly goals, the scheme awards Bronze, Silver and Gold levels.
Under the leadership of James Trounce, a member of the congregation, St Mary’s achieved its Bronze Award in October 2023. It is now working towards Silver Award.
St Mary’s Churchyard
The substantial churchyard at St Mary’s was long ago decommissioned as a burial site, except for the burial of cremated remains. As such it is laid out as a park for all Attleborough residents and maintained by the Town Council and the Attleborough Bloomers. It is also used for Church events, such as the annual Fete and Artisan Markets in the summer.
As part of the Eco Church project the Town Council, Attleborough Bloomers and St Mary’s Church community are working together to improve its biodiversity. For this purpose a project group was set up in April 2023 to help coordinate efforts.
In addition, The Norfolk Wildlife Trust was asked to conduct a survey of the churchyard in order to assess it for biodiversity and make recommendations to improve this. Their report recommended the creation of conservation areas.
Conservation areas
The main conservation area - which will be mowed only once a year in July - is in the area immediately to the East of the Church. It contains a rare, churchyard-specific plant species called Lady’s Bedstraw, as well as other species which thrive in churchyards if undisturbed. It is marked out with posts.
In order to provide more sanctuary for wildlife (particularly insects and birds), the peripheral areas behind tombstones running around the South Eastern edges of the churchyard will be left uncut until October each year. The area immediately to the East of the Church Hall will also be left uncut to encourage wildlife.
At the same time, the Attleborough Bloomers have kindly committed to continuing their care for the rose garden in the churchyard and the area running along the side of the Griffin Pub. They plan to plant more pollinator attracting species as recommended by the Norfolk Wildlife Trust.
Together we hope to maintain the Churchyard as a beautiful open space for all the community, as well as a place where plants, insects and other wildlife can thrive for the good of the planet!