a partner church in the WOLDSBURN benefice
CHURCH AT KIRKBURN
CONSERVATION DOCUMENT 1 (cont)
It was important to achieve the correct balance of management. Too little results in areas which become overgrown and eventually return to scrub. This may be fine for small mammals, but poor for wild flowers and the species of insects that depend on them.
Too much management can create a sterile, organised environment with few areas for food or shelter.
We were luckily enough to be advised by a local botanist, a couple of ecologists and the RSPB as to the best way of managing the site. A basic survey of the existing habitats, plants and grasses was undertaken and used as the starting point for future work.
Too much management can create a sterile, organised environment with few areas for food or shelter.
We were luckily enough to be advised by a local botanist, a couple of ecologists and the RSPB as to the best way of managing the site. A basic survey of the existing habitats, plants and grasses was undertaken and used as the starting point for future work.
The plan is long term and flexible so that we can observe and adjust as we go. The overall aim is to create a range of different habitats which provide food and shelter and support different species of plants and animals. As a guideline we hope to:-
Mow and maintain the parts of the churchyard needed for access and the working of the church.
Preserve and encourage any existing native plants by appropriate management.
Leave some areas unmanaged or wild except for occasional tinkering.
Create new habitats.
Increase the number of species using appropriate native plants – preferably of local provenance.
Mown grass areas Some of the these areas contain a good selection of native grasses such as False Oat Grass, Red Fescue, Sweet Vernal Grass, Yorkshire Fog and many others. A few wild flowers had also managed to survive the years of hard cutting. For example - Selfheal, Oxeye Daisy, Birdsfoot trefoil, Cowslip, Ribwort Plantain etc
The general idea is to mow the areas around the recent graves, to each side of the path and around the church. The remainder of the grass will be cut in spring, summer and later in the year to encourage the native plants and grasses.
Additional wild flowers and grasses have been sown over some of the area and we used local sources of plants and seeds from traditional meadows within about 40 miles. In most cases the seeds were spread by collecting hay from these meadows and strewing the hay over the churchyard after it had been cut and raked.29/11/10We used hay from two Sites of Special Scientific Interest(SSSI’s), hay from one traditional meadow and seed from another.
Preserve and encourage any existing native plants by appropriate management.
Leave some areas unmanaged or wild except for occasional tinkering.
Create new habitats.
Increase the number of species using appropriate native plants – preferably of local provenance.
Mown grass areas Some of the these areas contain a good selection of native grasses such as False Oat Grass, Red Fescue, Sweet Vernal Grass, Yorkshire Fog and many others. A few wild flowers had also managed to survive the years of hard cutting. For example -
Additional wild flowers and grasses have been sown over some of the area and we used local sources of plants and seeds from traditional meadows within about 40 miles. In most cases the seeds were spread by collecting hay from these meadows and strewing the hay over the churchyard after it had been cut and raked.29/11/10We used hay from two Sites of Special Scientific Interest(SSSI’s), hay from one traditional meadow and seed from another.
850TH ANNIVERSARY
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