n By Keith Hatch


to be carbon neutral by 2030. It also “encourages and promotes natural graveyards”.


Chris has been Vicar at St John the Baptist at The Lee, high in the Chiltern Hills, for over three years, and the church has had natural graveyard designation for some before that.


Chris said, “The graveyard supports a large range of flora and fauna. It’s not massive but it’s large enough to provide a wildlife haven and a really important space for nature to thrive.


“We have a management plan in place, with the management definitely leaning towards the “rewilding” end of things. Though there is often a discussion on if it should be more managed.


“Some say it’s untidy, while others enjoy the opportunity to see the variety of nature that makes their home among the gravestones. They can be a tension, but I hope we have found a balance – though it can still be a bone of contention.”


Many people would be surprised to learn that much of the land owned by the Church is actually farmland.


While farmland owned by the church may not yet be looking at rewilding, many of the churchyards and cemeteries that are peoples traditional view of church land are now managed with wildlife in mind.


Much of this by dedicated clergy who are members of the Unite Faith Workers Branch. The Faith Workers’ Branch is open to all employees and office holders of any faith organisation. The branch has grown from 800 members in 2010 to well over 3,000 today, with over 2,000 of those within the Church of England.


Many of these members have been actively involved in ensuring that churchyards provide a natural habitat for all God’s creatures, including the Reverend Chris Haywood from the Diocese of Oxford.


Chris explained that the Diocese has been very proactive around environmental concerns and aims


“Bone” being an appropriate term, as Chris tells the story of a shocked dog walker that came up to him with a human femur that their dog had found. This turned out to be the result of a badger sett deciding to take up residence in one of the graves.


In a small village the church can be a focal point. One of the ways that Chris and his team managed to keep people onboard is to engage with the local community by having a working party.


Chris said, “Every November we organise a popular fun day for the community. We put on activities for the kids, arrange for a barbeque and completely clear the graveyard.”


“We clear the paths, tidy up the hedges and put all the cuttings on the compost heap. We are also planning to plant more wildflowers across the site.”


Many churches are now being recognised, and supported, for their work is part of the Eco Church scheme. The scheme is run by A Rocha UK, “a Christian charity working to protect and restore the natural world”.


The A Rocha Eco Church program was launched in 2016. By last year over 3,000 churches had received


31 uniteLANDWORKER Autumn 2024


a Gold, Silver or Bronze award for the work they had done to become more sustainable and reduce their environmental impact.


Pete Hobson is a Unite activist and retired Senior Rep for Diocese of Leicester.


Pete said, “My local church, St Andrews Aylestone, has a manicured front, unkempt back and wild graveyard over the road. We have a Silver Eco Church Award, which is partly about the churchyard, though also takes into account building related stuff such as lighting and recycling. We also aim to raise awareness.”


St Andrews is more urban than St John the Baptist and grounds are maintained by the local authority, so Pete said it is important to maintain a dialogue.


Pete explained, “We maintain a good line of communication with the right people and one of our members on the committee works in conservation. It’s good to have that level of expertise.”


They also have been building links with the local community. Pete added that “Local scouts and guides groups often visit to build bug hotels and carry out surveys. We have also linked up with the local Wildlife Trust who have been putting up swift boxes in the church tower to encourage nesting.


“Where we are in south Leicester is close to the River Soar and a local conservation group, the Aylestone Meadows Appreciation Society (AMAS) includes some church members, so we work with them a lot.”


So though the Church’s wider estate may need to do more, many faith workers on the ground are busy building a home for nature in their workplaces.


And next time you see a slightly unkempt churchyard, maybe pop in for a chat with the vicar? They might be managing the site for local wildlife – and could be a fellow Unite member who is happy to talk about how rewilding is working for them.


Mark Thomas


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