On a Saturday in early June, a few groups congregated around the church doorway to talk to people about bringing nature back to the churchyard.
Volunteers from On the Verge, Seaford Natural History Society, Save Seaford’s Swifts, and others had come together to encourage people to look for wild flowers and wildlife in the churchyard.
It was a great opportunity to celebrate the fact that in association with the council, the churchyard is now being managed for wildlife. This has meant leaving some areas of grass longer, so that the precious wildflowers (such as the beautiful wild clary) can appear, and insects and other creatures can return to live, feed and breed in our churchyard.
In the first week, 41 insects and birds were recorded including an emerald green Rose Chafer beetle, Leaf-cutter bee and a very rare fly. All records were sent to “Caring for God’s Acre” to be recorded in the National Biodiversity database.
In late July, a few volunteers returned to catch people on their way into the church for a photographic exhibition or coffee. We again talked to people about the churchyard and encouraged people to do the national “Butterfly count” which runs from 15 July to 7 August. The highlight of the day for me, was probably the splendid garden tiger moth.
It is hoped that it will become a regular event to monitor the biodiversity in the churchyard, but the group really need some volunteers, including a coordinator. If you can help, please contact On the Verge in the first instance.
Contact
Visit our website www.seafuture.org/on-the-verge
You can read more in the parish magazine here
Butterfly counting sheet here