The Dorset Wildlife Trust’s ‘Living Churchyard Project’ relaunched in January, and Bishop Karen has become the scheme's new Patron after the retirement of Bishop Nicholas.
The project has been running for over twenty years and is designed to help parishes look after their churchyards in a manner which cares for all nature and wildlife that inhabits the shared spaces. This includes one on one discussions with churches to find out the specific needs of their churchyards.
During the period of forced isolation due to Covid-19, the Trust had an opportunity to reflect and consider how to move the scheme forward by organising an online discussion to meet with their many churches. Over 100 people join in the conversation, and many ideas were shared on the future of the project.
As a volunteer-led project, the scheme draws on a vast wealth of knowledge and experience gathered from staff members, trustees, and well-informed and enthusiastic churchyard management groups and local experts.
The project came into its own during the pandemic when outside prayer spaces were promoted as a safe space to worship and reflect in silence and solitude.
As the project continues, the Dorset Wildlife Trust is hoping to move towards a much more diverse audience by encouraging local churchyard communities to engage with their local communities and spread the wonder, wildlife, and history of these remarkable outside spaces.
Bishop Karen is delighted at the opportunity to become the schemes new patron, saying: "This initiative brings together the brilliant work of the Dorset Wildlife Trust with our local churches, and has the potential to deepen our understanding of habitats; deepen our care for the environment; create havens of peace and prayer and enhance our enjoyment of our countryside in what is such a beautiful county."
The Dorset Wildlife Trust’s ‘Living Churchyard Project’ relaunched in January, and Bishop Karen has become the scheme's new Patron after the retirement of Bishop Nicholas.
The project has been running for over twenty years and is designed to help parishes look after their churchyards in a manner which cares for all nature and wildlife that inhabits the shared spaces. This includes one on one discussions with churches to find out the specific needs of their churchyards.
During the period of forced isolation due to Covid-19, the Trust had an opportunity to reflect and consider how to move the scheme forward by organising an online discussion to meet with their many churches. Over 100 people join in the conversation, and many ideas were shared on the future of the project.
As a volunteer-led project, the scheme draws on a vast wealth of knowledge and experience gathered from staff members, trustees, and well-informed and enthusiastic churchyard management groups and local experts.
The project came into its own during the pandemic when outside prayer spaces were promoted as a safe space to worship and reflect in silence and solitude.
As the project continues, the Dorset Wildlife Trust is hoping to move towards a much more diverse audience by encouraging local churchyard communities to engage with their local communities and spread the wonder, wildlife, and history of these remarkable outside spaces.
Bishop Karen is delighted at the opportunity to become the schemes new patron, saying: "This initiative brings together the brilliant work of the Dorset Wildlife Trust with our local churches, and has the potential to deepen our understanding of habitats; deepen our care for the environment; create havens of peace and prayer and enhance our enjoyment of our countryside in what is such a beautiful county."
If you’d like to find out more about the Living Churchyards Project, or if you’d like some tips on how to manage your churchyard in a wildlife-friendly way, visit the Dorset Wildlife Trusts website for more information.