Parish churches serve local communities in multiple ways, providing a place of worship, practical support and social activities. But did you know churchyards are also an important haven for wildlife? Small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and insects find food, nesting places and shelter in trees, shrubs, hedgerows, grassy margins, wildflowers, and piles of logs or dead leaves. Likewise, a compost heap hosts a myriad of invertebrates including woodlice, snails, worms and slugs. Through their Churchyard Conservation Scheme, Norfolk Wildlife Trust supports churches to identify plant and animal species and enhance habitats. Aylsham Parish Church has joined this scheme and has also received a Silver Eco Church award from environmental charity A Rocha UK. Their habitat enhancement is a work in progress.
Churchyard wildflowers provide nectar and pollen for insect pollinators as well as leaves for hungry caterpillars. Depending on the time of year, you can see bees, butterflies, moths and hoverflies feeding on nectar-rich flowers. Look out for Holly Blue, Peacock, Red Admiral, Comma, Orange Tip and Brimstone, all common butterfly species you might see feeding or basking in the sun. Slow worms have been spotted here too! Between mowing, dandelions delight us with sunburst colour and provide vital early food for bees and hoverflies. Contained areas of Stinging Nettles in a sunny spot support a variety of insects including aphids, ladybirds and caterpillars of Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell butterflies.
On the east side of the churchyard, the mixed border includes French Crane’s-bill, a food plant for moth caterpillars and flowers providing nectar for bees, hoverflies and butterflies. Likewise, the flowers of Green Alkanet, Rosemary and Comfrey. Wild Cherry offer a buffet of nectar and pollen for insects, fruit for birds and wood mice, and leaves for moth caterpillars. Look for Opium Poppy near Aylsham Heritage Centre.
Along the north side, English Oak overhang the churchyard. The mighty Oak supports the highest biodiversity among native trees in the UK, hosting 2,300 different species, including invertebrates, lichens, fungi, birds and mammals. You can also see Yew, the oldest native tree in the UK with a lifespan of several thousand years. Common in churchyards, this evergreen is a symbol of eternal life and rebirth. Small mammals and species of thrush dine on the Yew’s succulent red fruit and moth caterpillars eat the leaves. Black Elderberry’s scented flowers have abundant nectar for pollinators, and its black fruits are enjoyed by birds and small mammals.
Near the gateway to Cromer Road, the pendulous flowers of Sycamore are a source of nectar and pollen in spring, and the seeds, known as ‘helicopters’, are eaten by birds and small mammals. Moth caterpillars feed on the Sycamore’s leaves and insects overwinter in the bark. Often maligned, Common Ivy is fabulous for wildlife! Over 140 insect and 17 bird species feed on ivy in the UK. Late flowers provide nectar for insects such as bees, hoverflies and wasps and berries are a winter food for birds such as Blackbirds, Song Thrushes and Wood Pigeons. Ivy is also an important food plant for Holly Blue butterfly caterpillars. Many other animals use Ivy for year-round shelter. To fully benefit wildlife, Ivy needs to reach adult growth, which takes ten years [RHS].
On the west side, the Holly hedge is another key source of food, safe nesting places and year-round shelter, increasingly important as garden hedges are removed. The flowers provide nectar and pollen for pollinators, leaves are eaten by moths and Holly Blue butterfly caterpillars, and berries feed birds and mice in winter.
On the south side, the mixed border includes Bear’s Breeches (Acanthus mollis), its glossy leaves enjoyed by slugs and snails and tall white flower spikes attracting large bees and bumblebees. This striking plant is interspersed with Sweet Mock Orange, Honeysuckle, Ivy, Rose, Black Elderberry, Holly, Ash, Stinging Nettle, White Dead Nettle, Mahonia, a source of nectar through winter, and Bramble with nectar, berries and nesting habitat.
The Churchyard’s stonework also supports plants and living organisms. On the west boundary wall, you can see Ivy-leaved Toadflax and Pellitory-of-the-wall, a plant often found in Norfolk’s churchyards. Likewise, around half of Norfolk’s 500 species of lichens are found in churchyards. These colourful crusty growths are commonly seen on headstones, table tombs and church walls and simply need air, light, moisture and a stable surface to thrive.
For bird species, look out for Great Tit, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Robin and Blackbird. You might even glimpse Green Woodpecker on the grass, Dunnock in the undergrowth or Blue Tits nesting in crevices in the tower walls. On summer evenings, the Oaks are a popular meeting place for chattering Rooks and Jackdaws before they flock to roosts at Aylsham Manor. At dusk, you might even see bats! The Merlin Sound ID app can help you identify birds from their calls.
As well as year-round species, Aylsham is home to migratory visitors from Africa. In summer, Common Swift race through the town’s historic streets and over rooftops. From the churchyard, you can see Swifts feeding on aerial insects over Red Lion Street to the east and Penfold Street to the south, two of several streets where Swifts nest beneath the pantiles just above gutters. The hope is that Swifts will occupy the thirty nest boxes behind the north-facing window of the belfry. Church towers are ideal for Swifts due to easy access, protection from weather and predators, and height for chicks to fledge safely. Listen out for recordings of Swift calls played mornings and evenings to attract first-time breeders, and if you see Swifts enter the louvres, let Aylsham Swift Group know!
Small mammals also thrive in churchyards where the environment is more natural than gardens using chemicals and slug pellets. Hedgehogs especially can find food and places to hibernate undisturbed. Look out for their dark, glossy, sausage-shape poop 1.5 cm to 5 cm long. Likewise, you might see Common Shrew, Bank Voles and Wood Mice in churchyard vegetation. Keep your eyes peeled!
