The Importance of Burial Grounds for Natural Heritage

Harriet Carty

Protecting WildlifePreserving HeritageInvolving People

Natural Heritage in harmony with Built Heritage

Make a plan based on built & natural heritage and also resources

YEWS

• Never assume a yew is dying or dead, they can carry considerable deadwood.

• If boughs are collapsing leave in situ if possible, they can take root and regenerate

• Remove ivy• Keep the ground clear below a yew, no sheds,

railings, compost heaps etc!• Get a specialist tree surgeon or arborist

LICHENS

• Do not spray around monuments• Give them some light, scrub or ivy will smother• Most lichens do not damage stone and can protect it,

but certain stone types can be affected. Seek advice.• Generally do not clean them off. If cleaning is needed

then seek advice.• Do not move or realign lichen covered stones. N/S

alignment is vital

British Lichen Society

GRASSLAND

• Always pick up and remove any arisings

• Four categories: short, medium, long, tussocky.

• All four have benefits for wildlife, so plan what is appropriate where

Grass Length Guidelines

Mow the following regularly• Recent and regularly visited graves• Entrances, path edges and around buildings• Areas where events take place• Paths through longer grass to explore

Long Grass and Insurance

• Close mow paths through areas of long grass and close mow paths to and around any visited graves

• Erect a clear, obvious sign indicating risks of walking in areas of long grass

• Ensure that decisions on management and risk management are discussed at meetings and this is documented. Record when actions are put in place

• Review and revise H&S regularly

IVY

Ivy Guidelines for Stonework

• Don’t remove it ‘because it is there’. Is it damaging and will removal make things worse?

• Does the monument or structure have joints that the ivy could penetrate in which case consider removal

• Is the ivy holding things up in which case trim it or prepare to rebuild

• If it is actually rooting into a structure rather than into the ground then removal is the best option

• Peel off to the ground, do not cut out a section as this encourages rooting

OPPORTUNITIES