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.
The churchyard has been managed for wildflowers since 2014. During spring and early summer four designated areas, mostly surrounding the older graves, are allowed to grow uncut. Our annual meadow mow is held usually on the last Saturday in July, followed by a barbecue in the churchyard for our volunteers. There are two other working party days during the year, the first in mid to late March to tidy up and mark out the wildflower areas, and the last one at the end of November to rake leaves and turn the compost heap.
We made the decision at the start of the project not to introduce any plants, at least until we were confident that everything present in the seed bed that was going to had appeared. The only exception to this was yellow rattle which we introduced as a management tool to control the long grasses and allow the wildflowers to establish. At the start of the project, we recorded 40 different species of wildflowers and grasses and now our species list currently stands at 125 plants and 140 birds, mammals, invertebrates etc. Notable wildflowers are an abundance of oxeye daisies, field scabious, a pyramidal orchid that pops up every couple of years and two expanding patches of meadow saxifrage. Now that we are satisfied that there are no new wildflowers left to appear, our plan moving forward is to move from conservation to restoration, so we will be looking at the possibility of importing some "green hay" from another churchyard locally to see if we can introduce some new species, including some last recorded here in 1984-88.
Visitors are welcome to come and experience the quiet beauty of the wildflower meadow which is at its best in May and June. Paths are mown through the meadow areas to wander through and get close to the plants and the butterflies and other insects they attract.
- Good accessibility
- Peaceful space for quiet reflection
- Wild flower Areas in spring/summer
- Wildlife haven
St James' is an Eco Church, attaining Eco Church Silver Award in 2023. In addition to managing the churchyard for wildlife we also grow a variety of cut flowers in pots at the entrance and south wall of the church which are used for eco-friendly and sustainable flower arrangements inside the church.
The churchyard has tarmac paths right round the church and there are several benches with arms.
There is a bus stop a short walk from the church on the main road outside the youth hostel.
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
