Wilder Church yards & Cemeteries

In 2024 our rewilding project entered an exciting new phase as we expanded our efforts to include St. Michaels church yard and older sections of Minehead cemetery. This natural approach to land management has already shown promising results in our initial trial areas throughout our open spaces, and we're eager to bring these benefits to these sacred and historical spaces.
What is Rewilding?Rewilding involves allowing natural processes to reclaim managed landscapes, reducing human intervention to create spaces where nature can thrive on its own terms. In practice, this means reduced mowing schedules, allowing native plants to flower and seed, and creating habitats that support diverse wildlife.
The Perfect SettingChurch yards and historic cemetery sections offer ideal locations for rewilding initiatives. These spaces:
● Often contain ancient grassland untouched by agricultural chemicals● Provide peaceful, accessible green spaces within our community● Already serve as important spiritual and contemplative areas● Contain historical monuments that tell our community's story
Environmental BenefitsThe environmental advantages of our expanded rewilding programme is substantial:
● Biodiversity Boost: Unmown areas quickly become havens for wildflowers, which in turn support crucial pollinators. A single church yard can host over 100 plant species when allowed to flourish naturally.● Wildlife Habitat: Taller grasses, wildflowers, and undisturbed areas create essential homes for insects, small mammals, and birds. Many species struggling in our wider countryside can find refuge in these protected spaces.● Carbon Capture: Allowing plants to grow fully enables greater carbon sequestration, helping address climate change at a local level.● Water Management: Natural vegetation reduces runoff during heavy rains, helping prevent local flooding issues while filtering water naturally.
Community and Spiritual BenefitsBeyond environmental gains, rewilding these special areas offers profound community benefits:
● Connection to History: Our ancestors often had deeper connections to seasonal changes and natural cycles. Rewilding creates a living link to historical relationships with the land.● Spiritual Reflection: Many find that wilder, more natural spaces enhance spiritual reflection and provide comfort during cemetery visits. The changing seasons become more visible and meaningful.● Educational Opportunities: These spaces offer wonderful outdoor classrooms for local schools to learn about ecology, history, and conservation.● Community Well-being: Research consistently shows that access to natural spaces improves mental health and well-being.
Our Balanced ApproachOur rewilding plan maintains a respectful balance:
● Pathways will remain accessible for visitors with strategic pathways cut and maintained throughout● Areas around recent graves will continue receiving traditional maintenance● Informational signage will help visitors understand and appreciate the changes● Seasonal maintenance will prevent any areas from becoming completely overgrown
Join UsWe invite community members to participate in this exciting extension of our rewilding initiative by providing your thoughts and feedback by contacting us on 01643 707213 or emailing ku.oc.licnuocnwotdaehenim%40ofni. All feedback is welcome.
By extending our rewilding efforts to these meaningful community spaces, we're helping nature thrive while creating more meaningful connections to our local environment, history and each other.

Visualising Our Rewilding Vision

The maps in this section include illustrated layers showing proposed pathways, maintained areas and rewilding zones across our sites. These layered representations are intended to help you understand our general planning approach with the red areas on the maps representing frequently mown areas.
Please note that while these maps show designated elements like footpaths and mowing boundaries, the actual implementation will take a more natural, organic approach. The straight lines and defined shapes on these reference maps will translate to gently flowing pathways and subtle transitions between different areas in practice.
The reality of our rewilding project will be more fluid than these map overlays suggest, as we'll be working with the existing landscape and allowing natural processes to guide the development of each unique site. These visual guides simply offer a starting point to help you envision how these spaces might be thoughtfully transformed while maintaining necessary access and respect for these important community areas.

St Michaels Church Yard