PRESIDENT: HRH The Prince of Wales
Press Release
January 2016
THE BEAUTIFUL BURIAL GROUND
CONFERENCE IS COMING TO
NORTHUMBERLAND
‘Learn simple ways to create a haven for wildlife, for heritage, for people.’
'The Beautiful Burial Ground' conference, a one-day event organised by the
charity Caring for God’s Acre (CfGA) will take place on Wednesday 27th April
at Hexham Abbey.
The Beautiful Burial Ground conference is for anyone involved with or
interested in the care and conservation of church and chapel yards,
cemeteries, crematoria and green burial grounds. The event, part funded by
the Heritage Lottery Fund, will also interest naturalists, historians,
educationalists and community workers.
A host of different speakers and organisations will be giving advice and
information through key note speeches and workshops.
Caring for God’s Acre is enlisting support for the conference from experts such as
John Tierney of the Historic Graves Project who will run a workshop on simple steps
to surveying memorials. Tracey Evans of the Northumberland Wildlife Trust will talk
about how the plants and animals in burial grounds can be of interest to families.
CfGA workers, Andrea Gilpin, Harriet Carty and Sue Cooper are running workshops
on a variety of topics from managing burial site grassland for conservation to raising
funds and recruiting volunteers. There will also be an opportunity to look at displays
and talk to people from other conservation and community organisations.
Sue Cooper, the manager of Caring for God’s Acre, said ‘The charity is the ‘go to’
organisation for advice on burial ground conservation and this conference, which is
part of a national series, will help people to realise how important they are to our
heritage and how to take care of them and involve others.’
Places are limited on the conference and booking is essential. The cost is £15 to
include lunch and refreshments.
To book a place at the conference call: 01588 673041 or email info@cfga.org.uk
Caring for God's Acre champions the conservation of burial sites of all kinds. It is a
membership charity, which individuals and community groups are welcome to join.
There is a helpful website at www.caringforgodscare.org.uk providing useful
information on conservation management and the charity's activities.
ENDS
There are over 20,000 burial grounds across England and Wales and it is well
documented that they are a rich source of wildlife, often functioning as a sanctuary
for flora and fauna which are rare and endangered elsewhere in the U.K. From song
thrushes and swifts to hedgehogs, newts and slow worms, the biodiversity of these
areas also encompasses species of international importance such as Yew trees and
bumblebees. They are also important for their historic man-made structures such as
monuments and memorials, boundary walls, lychgates, preaching crosses and
mausoleums. This varied interest makes them ideal places for learning and for
community activity such as practical conservation work and recording of the
stonework and wildlife habitats. Caring for God’s Acre produces a special
Churchyard and Burial Ground Action pack full of useful information on a wide range
of topics to help people with their local sites. An Education Pack has recently been
launched for primary schools and young peoples’ clubs. A new Botanical Companion
has been public shed by CfGA for people to record the plants in their local sites. All
of these resources can be downloaded from the website free of charge.
Using money raised through the National Lottery, the Heritage Lottery
Fund (HLF) sustains and transforms a wide range of heritage for present
and future generations to take part in, learn from and enjoy. From
museums, parks and historic places to archaeology, natural environment
and cultural traditions, we invest in every part of our diverse heritage.
HLF has supported over 30,000 projects, allocating £4.7 billion across
the UK. Website: www.hlf.org.uk
Editors' note - For further information contact Sue Cooper, Caring for God's Acre, 11
Drover's House, Craven Arms, Shropshire SY9 5DF. Tel: 01588 673041.
Email: sue@cfga.org.uk
Out of hours 07891470607