The Churchyard is an amenity used by the whole village and visitors to the area.
It is surrounded by private gardens and farmland. There is a spring that runs beneath the grounds, that feeds the village pond, on the Green.
It is a place of great natural beauty, with mature trees complimented by grassed areas, and has been enjoyed by the village for hundreds of years.
The earliest dated graves are from 1655 and 1656, and are under the East window; the churchyard is still in use today for burials.
There are about 50 trees in the Churchyard: Oak, Yew, Horse Chestnut, Sweet Chestnut, and Sycamore. Poplar, Larch, Hawthorn, Elm, Holly, Green Beech, Flowering Cherry, Mountain Ash, and Birch have also been noted in the past.
The Himalayan Silver Birch trees lining the path to the Church were planted in 1998, to replace ailing Poplars.
All these trees need to be inspected on a regular basis, in addition to the general maintenance of the area.
Flowers in the Churchyard
A wide variety of cultivated flowers and wildflowers have been noted in the past: There are many snowdrops in the Spring, also Stinging nettles, Cow Parsley, Sorrel, Plantain, Wild Oats, Poppies, Scarlet Pimpernel, St. John’s Wort, Groundsel, Feverfew, Lesser Celandine, White and Red Nettle, Geranium, Yarrow, Hawkweed, Speedwell, Buttercup, Kidney Vetch, Horseshoe Vetch, Common Dock, Mallow, Ragwort, Sow Thistle, Dandelion, White Campion, Bindweed, Ox-eye Daisy, Cinquefoil, Goose-grass, Bryony, Nightshade, Daffodils, and many different grasses, lichens and mosses.
Many of these species can still be found if we look hard enough.
Wild Life in the Churchyard
Birds noted in the area: Starling, Sparrow, Swift, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Pigeon, Collared Dove, Jackdaw, Blue tit, Great tit, Long-tailed tit, Pheasant, Magpie, Robin.
Reptiles: Grass snakes have been seen in the long grass, and a slow worm was seen recently.
Insects: Ants, Beetles, Stag beetles, Gnats, Flies, Leafhoppers, Earwigs, Greenfly, Spiders, Wireworm, Crane-fly (Daddy longlegs).
There are also Moles and Rabbits in evidence and Bats in the Belfry!
The Churchyard has a rich and varied Flora and Fauna, let’s try and keep it that way!
