Care for Creation: Wilder Churches on BBC South Today

Britain is currently one of the most nature depleted countries in the world, so every extra opportunity we can give to wildlife is vital. If all of the 800+ Church of England churchyards and church gardens in the Diocese of Oxford provided some space for wildlife, that would create a great network of steppingstones for wildlife across the Thames Valley. That's why we're working with the Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) to make the Wildlife Trust’s expertise available to churches to help them make the simple, beneficial changes needed. Together we’ve started Wilder Churches for our area. We have two completely free Wilder Churches training days this month and next month: they’re both going to be at St Michael and All Angel’s Church in Blewbury near Didcot, on Saturday April 29 and Saturday May 20, and I’m going to be giving people some expert advice on how you even get started with this kind of project – the things you need to think about, the tools and resources you might need and the sort of wildlife that you can help. There’s loads more information on our website, if people just go to bbowt.org.uk/events. If you can’t make those days we’ve also got a whole page on the website about Wilder Churches where people can find stories of what other churches have done and links to local church groups they can join: just Google the bbowt website and search for ‘Wilder Churches’. Also, Churches Count on Nature is coming up in June: this is an opportunity for communities to gather together to appreciate and record the wildlife in their churchyards. Look for information on the Caring for God’s Acre website. Botanical surveys in June will be easier if churches can leave an areas uncut during Plantlife’s No Mow May beforehand!