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.
St Michael’s Churchyard is located on Greenhill in the Southern part of Lichfield. It is much older than the Church itself, and thought to date back to pre-Christian times. It covers a 9 acre area, making it one of the 5 largest churchyards in England.
The natural features of St Michael’s Churchyard make it a very beautiful sacred space. There are over 500 trees, both deciduous and evergreen, with some rarities such as the Japanese Cork Tree and the Oregon Maple. Most of the common British tree species are present and there is an avenue of crab apple trees leading up to the Church door. The Churchyard is also noted for its fine display of snowdrops in the early months of the year, followed by crocus, daffodil, bluebell and wild garlic as the Spring arrives, with cow parsley lining the paths in early summer.
Other wildlife can be seen, including woodpeckers, foxes, lichen on gravestones and tree branches, fungi, mosses, spiders and insects such as moths, butterflies and grasshoppers.
In the Autumn of 2017 a Working Party was formed, the aim being to look after the churchyard and encourage even more wildlife. The Working Party meets on a Saturday Morning once a month throughout the year.
St Michael on Greenhill: A Churchyard for People and Wildlife
- Birders paradise
- Famous/infamous people's memorials
- Fascinating monuments
- Good accessibility
- Great for fungi
- Lichen haven
- Peaceful space for quiet reflection
- Stones with stories
- Wild flower Areas in spring/summer
- Wildlife haven
Dog Friendly
The burial ground is at the top of the hill. Once at the top of the hill, there are level paths.
Two benches in the churchyard.
Nearest station is 0.4 miles away, Lichfield City.
Nearest bus stop is outside the Church.
The map below will take a few seconds to load. You can search for a burial ground either by county, or by the name of the burial ground, or by clicking the markers on the map.
Add your burial ground.
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
