A Rocha UK is a Christian charity working to protect and restore the natural world and committed to equipping Christians and churches in the UK to care for the environment. This year, as part of this work, a week long campaign, ‘Churches Count on Nature’, will be held from June 3rd – 11th.
Here, Delyth Higgins, Eco Church Officer for A Rocha UK, shares more information about the campaign;
Churches Count on Nature 2023 is a week-long opportunity to focus on the wonderful wildlife to be found in our churchyards, graveyards, and burial grounds (and any other land your chapel or church has!) It is an annual, joint initiative promoted by Caring for God’s Acre, A Rocha UK, Church in Wales and the Church of England, and encourages people connected with our churches and churchyards to arrange nature-focused activities and events during this week.
It is open to ALL DENOMINATIONS and we’d therefore ask you to encourage participation among your congregations, which could be great opportunities for inviting the wider community onto church land, reaching out and making connections.
We are particularly looking for increased participation from chapels and churches in Wales this year.
The wildlife event could be any nature activity in the churchyard – nature walks, trails, tidy-ups, displays or the construction of habits to encourage wildlife, and could either be run or organised exclusively by the church or in partnership with local organisations such as local wildlife trusts. Love your Burial Ground Week & Churches Count on Nature – FAQs – Caring For God’s Acre – the conservation charity for burial grounds across the UK (caringforgodsacre.org.uk)
And if the activity involves counting wildlife species, you could take part in a national survey and get your churchyard on the map. Your species data would also be added to the National Biodiversity Network website https://burialgrounds.
Registration is free and once registered, you will receive two copies of the Churches Count on Nature Starter Guide and a Guide to Wildlife in Burial Grounds. Register for Love Your Burial Ground Week/Churches Count on Nature 2023 – Caring For God’s Acre – the conservation charity for burial grounds across the UK (caringforgodsacre.org.uk)
I really do hope that you can be part of Churches Count on Nature 2023 this June.”