Over two weeks in October we ran 3 fungi walks in Longden Road Victorian Cemetery. With so many walks covering the same ground there was concern that we would run out of fungi to discover, but autumn had other ideas….. We started the walk with a recommendation to use all of our senses when trying […]
By Gary Easton, member of Devon Fungus Group and BMS Fungal Education and Outreach Committee As you’re reading this blog for UK Fungus Day on 4th October 2025, I’m sure you’ve already realised that Ballerinas and Parrots are common names for fungi. They are in a group known as the Waxcaps, because of their appearance […]
Yellow Rattle (Rhinanthus minor) is a true hero in the quest to restore and create wildflower meadows. This semi-parasitic annual attaches itself to neighbouring grasses through its root system, reducing the vigour of the grass. Where Yellow Rattle is present, you will notice that the grass is shorter and less dense. (It can reduce hay […]
Swifts, swallows, and house martins are all expert fliers that hunt insects mid-air, catching and eating them while in flight. These birds are social and gregarious, and they have similar sizes and shapes, making it challenging to distinguish between them. By popular request we have produced this new guide as part of our Spotter’s Guide […]
A new directory has been launched to help the public find funeral flowers that are kinder to the environment. The directory can be used to find local florists who will avoid all plastics and floral foam. Additionally a large majority of the flowers are locally grown. We receive many enquiries from churchwardens about the amount of uncompostable waste and litter issues […]
This month’s blog post is reproduced here by kind permission of the author, Non Morris, and http://www.theenglishgarden.co.uk/
Hi Celia, please tell us a little about how your project began? Our beautiful churchyard and my love of nature inspired me to co-ordinate a God’s Acre Programme which has now existed for over 15 years. It first started with CFGA offering surveys of our trees and, at a later date, a lichen survey when […]
We spoke to Rev’d Susan Blagden from St Mary’s, Caerhun, Conwy, Wales about their experience of joining in with the week. Hello Susan, please tell us a little about yourself. I am a Self Supporting Minister in Bro Celynnin, North Wales, which includes Conwy town and part of the valley. I am a Spiritual Director, photographer, Life […]
Executive summary by Harriet Carty, Director of Caring for God’s Acre After 4 ½ years our Beautiful Burial Ground project has come to an end. We are really proud of all that’s been achieved and feel there is a lot to celebrate. Don’t just take our word for it though! Here’s what our evaluator Heritage Insider […]
The first known cultivation of snowdrops in the UK was recorded in 1597. While it is thought that pilgrims originally brought this beautiful flower to our shores, it was the Victorians who enthusiastically planted them in churchyards and cemeteries as a symbol of purity and hope. A wander through a burial ground at this time […]
We have started a series of printable Spotter Guides to use at events or pop on notice boards to encourage visitors to identify what they discover. We now have summer flowers and butterflies which can be downloaded here. On these guides are details encouraging people to let us know what they find – helping put […]
We are absolutely thrilled that our Beautiful Burial Ground Project, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund has been awarded the Best Practice Award for Knowledge Sharing (2022) by the CIEEM (Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management). This award ‘recognizes the high standard of professionalism and ecological environmental management practice’ and has been given […]