Cherishing Churchyards
Saturday 9th June – Sun 17th June 2018
David Curry writes ...
Are you interested in celebrating your local churchyard or burial ground? Then join us for a special week to celebrate churchyards and burial grounds and to raise awareness of the treasures they contain.
Devon’s churchyards are special places:
- They often contain a rich diversity of plant and animal life.
- They are important places for archaeology and history.
- They often have distinctive and veteran trees.
- The stonework and boundary walls provide a home for a mosaic of mosses, ferns and lichens.
- They provide a tranquil place for quiet reflection.
- They are a resource for inspiration and community learning.
Churchyards are often within walking distance of local communities and can provide a focus for community involvement.
Examples of activities include:
For families: A quiz, a treasure hunt, a mini beast safari, tree bingo, letter or leaf rubbing, making gargoyles out of clay…
Open days: guided tours, slide talks, tower tours...
Volunteer activities: making compost areas, scything the grass, repairing the boundary walls, memorial recording, bramble clearing, nest box making, path clearing…
Workshops: plant identification, animal identification, dawn chorus, geology, tree care, archaeology, creative writing, art.
Please visit “Caring for God’s Acre” website on Conservation Advice/Advice Sheets for Download if you feel the following information may be useful:
- Activities for Young People
- Attracting Volunteers
- Health & Safety Information
- Cherishing Churchyard Logo
If you would like to register your event as part of National Cherishing Churchyards week, please contact David Curry Email: david.curry@arocha.org