The church yard of St Michael and All Angels, Geldeston sits on high land above the main area of the village but on a well used route for walkers. It is a special place for both wildlife and people included as one of Norfolk Wildlife Trusts’ churchyard conservation scheme. To maintain the wildlife conservation value, the church yard needs to be managed by letting the grassland flower and set seeds. Once cut, the grassland should be raked off to reduce the build up of nutrients. The church yard responds to this treatment by providing a lovely display of flowers including early on snowdrops, violets and primroses , and then others such as meadow saxifrage, ladies bedstraw, pyramidal orchid, appropriate as a setting for this ancient, round tower church (the chancel has some fine carvings of flowers on interna and external walls). Resident reptile populations include slow worm, common lizard and grass snake.
Earlier in the week, the church yard was cut by a combination of a rough grass cutting machine, strimming, and limited scything. The grass cutter required a run between monuments, but could not be used where there were kerb stones. Many had become totally over grown by vegetation and mounds created by ants and were searched in advance of the cutting. The weather could have been kinder for the cutting but needs must! Fortunately, on the Rake and Cake Day we were blessed by warm sunshine -perfect for raking!
In response to the publicity for the event 12 volunteers appeared, rake and gloves in hand, for the morning rake starting at 10.30am. Raking got off straight away with great gusto, the volunteers choosing to work an area en bloc working outwards from the church. Barrows and humpers were provided to move the rakings to a discrete compost area (rather than a random scatter of piles). The resultant grass pile heap will be welcomed by the local grass snake population!
After a concentrated effort of around an hour and a half of raking the church bell summoned all for a welcome break: home made cakes and tea, and a chat. ‘Please thank the cake maker for the wonderful ‘courgette’ cake, it was delicious’.
The majority of raking was completed by the early afternoon. A further three volunteers joined for the afternoon also removing some of the ivy that was beginning to obscure some of the head stones. ‘The group showed a spirit of determination and will to get the raking done so that clearing the cut wild flowers and grasses will give the less dominant seeds a better chance of flowering next year. All this will encourage more wildlife, butterflies, bees and moths and we can relax knowing that having aching limbs was worth it and enjoy the fruits of our labour in the spring and summer months next year’.
Volunteers came from Geldeston itself as well as adjoining villages, and as far off as Surrey and Kent. ‘It was such a pleasure to meet you and everyone on Saturday. What a wonderful group of villagers, some long-time residents and some newly arrived, together with two wayward travellers from the southern counties who are now wondering why on earth they are living there’. Helpers included two siblings who wanted to help look after the place where their parents will be interned, a recently arrived resident joined as a way to meet local people. All said they would be happy to help again in the church which is fantastic!
Catherine Bickmore, Church Warden of St Michael and All Angels, Geldeston
You can download the Norfolk Wildlife Trust‘s information sheet on managing grasslands HERE
