5th June 2018

Invitation extended to a 'BioBlitz' at Lancashire Church

Nature lovers will descend on St John’s Church in Hurst Green later this week when a two-day ‘BioBlitz’ takes place.

For the church has teamed up with the Lancashire Wildlife Trust, LWT, to host a series of workshops, surveys and wildlife walks around the historic parish church’s grounds.

Taking place on the evening of Friday June 8 and Saturday morning of June 9 nature experts from the LWT will be in attendance to help people learn how to identify plants and animals found in the churchyard. All are welcome.

Various nature surveys will also be taking place at the same time.

The two day event is part of Cherishing Churchyards Week, organized nationwide by Caring for God’s Acre, a non-religious charity dedicated to conserving and celebrating burial grounds.

Says parish member and event organiser Clare Hyde: “The BioBlitz aims to show church congregations how their Churchyards can be managed to create a biodiverse habitat, while still maintaining a respectful and peaceful graveyard.”

St John’s churchyard and graveyard are managed in this way as a result of working on Eco Congregation Award schemes (now renamed Eco Church), over the past 12 years. The Church has already achieved a Bronze Award for its commitment to environmental work.

Part of the churchyard is a wildflower meadow, managed in partnership with Bowland Haytime Project, which supplies seed, and scythes annually.

Parish Priest, Rev Canon Brian McConkey said today: " I am really happy to be the Vicar of a Church with such a care for all of God's creation.

“To be able to reflect that commitment in our church grounds with events such as this is a great joy. There is wildlife for all to explore.”

The advert for the BioBlitz can be found on our Events Calendar here.

As well as the BioBlitz, all kinds of other eco-events have also taken place within the churchyard – from bat watches to falconry demonstrations.

To enquire about the BioBlitz, contact Julia Simons on 01772 317246 or email jsimons@lancswt.org.uk