We are compiling this directory of flowery burial grounds from across the UK, which we would recommend visiting if you are looking for a well managed site rich in wildlife and heritage. Burial grounds can have a rich array of plants, animals and fungi, and may contain the only surviving area of flower-rich grassland in a parish. All the sites listed here contain this habitat. To see the flowers at their best, late May to mid or end of July is usually the most suitable time to visit. However, do contact the site managers for more specific timings before you visit if this is important to you.
This beautiful churchyard is approximately a quarter of a hectare in size and is well maintained. It surrounds St Edmund’s Church which is a Grade 11 listed building and is situated near the centre of the small town of Crickhowell. It lies in the Conservation Area of the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority. The churchyard has been closed for coffin burials since 1886 but a few burials of ashes have taken place more recently.
The ground is flat, though uneven in parts of the eastern end. It is surrounded by stone walls on three sides, north, east and west which separate the churchyard from roads, and railings on the south side. Alongside the railings is a path which separates the churchyard from the town cemetery.
St Edmund’s churchyard has a good diversity of wild flowers. Some fungi have been seen amongst the grass, in a flowerbed and on a couple of the yew trees. The most common birds seen around and above the churchyard are blackbirds, sparrows, wrens, jackdaws, crows, pigeons, collared doves, swifts, sparrowhawks, and kites. At night, owls are sometimes heard, and bats, which roost in the church roof-space, can be seen flying through the churchyard and surrounding area.
Other animals which are occasionally spotted are butterflies, bees, hedgehogs, slow worms, beetles, ladybirds, snails and slugs. A few tussocky mounds found on a few gravestones and the remains of a tree stump have been identified as the habitats of rare yellow meadow ants.
Tarmac path leading to the church and throughout areas of the churchyard
We are soon to install some new benches
There are bus stops within the town of Crickhowell https://bustimes.org/localities/crickhowell
If you would like to nominate a flowery burial ground that you manage for inclusion in our directory, please complete the form here. We will review all submissions before inclusion in the directory, so please understand you won’t see your burial ground immediately.Â