Diocese of Chichester

The biodiversity survey, supported by environmental charities A Rocha UK and Caring for God’s Acre, as well as the Church of England and the Church in Wales, will take place from June 3 to 11, 2023.

In the last two years, 900 counting events took place across churches in England and Wales, and over 27,000 wildlife records were submitted to Caring for God’s Acre. Churches across all denominations take part in the count each year. 

Churches Count on Nature is part of Love Your Burial Ground Week, which is open to anyone with a love of nature and any church that has land. 

Churches are being encouraged to connect with local schools, wildlife groups, and those who may not have visited before to discover their churchyards. 

A growing number of churches in the Diocese of Chichester respond well to eco initiatives and many churches have signed up to A Rocha to become an eco-church. 

One of those parishes, Ticehurst and Flimwell, have now achieved a Gold A Rocha award. Vicar Revd Ashley Evan, is fully supportive of the Churches Count on Nature initiative and said: "Our nation and communities will hopefully be inspired by Sir David Attenborough's "Wild Isles" series beginning on BBC1 this Sunday about Britain's wildlife and biodiversity, which we must protect and encourage. Many people do not realise how diverse and vital our churchyards are in terms of their flora and fauna. Do join in with the Churches Count on Nature on a morning, afternoon or all day during 3rd to 11th June, and invite parishioners to help out. Advice can be found through 'Caring for God's Acre'. There were 900 church counts last year - let's go well past 1000 this year!"

This Sunday will see the first episode of the BBC’s Wild Isles, a new nature documentary series with Sir David Attenborough focusing on the biodiversity of the UK – which it is hoped will help to inspire local churches to register for the count. 

Speaking on the series, Sir David said: “Never has there been a more important time to invest in our own wildlife – to try and set an example for the rest of the world and restore our once wild isles for future generations.” 

This year’s survey is the first in three years to take place without Covid restrictions, so registered churches will hope to see an increased number of parishioners taking part in counting events. 

The count can serve not only to raise awareness and encourage care of the wildlife in churchyards but to provide local communities with a shared activity that can bring people together. 

Register your church here

Penny Evans, from Ticehurst and Flimwell parish, will be talking on BBC Radio Sussex on Sunday 12 March at 8.10am telling listeners what her church will be doing for the Churches Count on Nature campaign. Listen here