At St Mary’s Rufford we are taking seriously the challenge to bring more natural richness to church lands, diversifying their churchyard and cemetery to provide a welcome for wild flowers, pollinating insects and birds, and creating a space for wonder and consolation among the memorials of those who have previously made their home in the parish.
A stretch of ground has been prepared by rotavating ready for the planting of wild flower plugs and seeds. Some areas of grass are being left unmown to let wild flowers grow up and bloom. Alongside, a mixed hedge will be planted – hawthorn, blackthorn, dog rose bringing shelter, blossom and fruit, joyful to the eye and nourishment for wildlife.
A bird box project will encourage robins, blue tits, great tits, and tree creepers to inhabit the churchyard, many boxes sponsored and monitored by St. Mary’s School and the Sunday School. Children and adults have also been busy filling cardboard tubes with twigs, sticks, leaves and moss ready for the assembling of a Bug Hotel in the church grounds, five-star of course!
Recently the work being carried out in Rufford was viewed by the Blackburn Diocesan Environment Officer, Professor The Revd Canon john Rothwell, who later addressed the Leyland Deanery Synod as it met in St Mary’s Church to look at the Church of England’s aim to be Net Zero by 2030.
This small part of God’s Kingdom is helping nature prosper and capturing carbon.
The parish is grateful for the input of staff at The National Trust, Rufford Old Hall in their project.
