Management Plan for Letton churchyard at www.lettonvillage.com

In total 108 species of flowering plants were identified at the time of the survey in May 2004 The churchyard has fairly typical and diverse churchyard flora with the older burial areas to the south of the path having traditional meadow plants, which are now scarce or absent in the wider countryside. It is for this reason that it has been described as a gem. This southern area supports mainly tall species-rich grassland with Sweet Vernal-grass, Red Fescue and Meadow Foxtail. False Oat-grass and Yorkshire Fog, which are dominant grasses are prevalent around the edges Field Woodrush is fairly frequent and flowers include Bird's-foot Trefoil, Sorrel, Ribwort Plantain, Pignut, Yarrow, Cat's-ear, Knapweed, Red Clover, Meadow Buttercup, and Lesser Stitchwort. There are a few Primroses and a single clump of Meadow Cranesbill in the western margins Orange Hawkweed or Fox and Cubs, the garden escape, is scattered throughout the area.

An interesting woodland flora survives beneath trees in the eastern and south eastern edges which includes Dog's Mercury, Wood Anemone, Wild Strawberry, Violet. a single plant of Tutsan, bluebells and snowdrops. Due to tree pruning which has allowed more light into the area changes have occurred including the growth of Cleavers, Nettles and Docks.

To the north of the path and around the church there is also a wide variety of plants many of which are non-native such as Greater Periwinkle, Green Alkanet, and Greater Celandine, once cultivated as a dye-plant. There are also some may plants which may be considered as 'weeds' and spread aggressively if not controlled; Sterile Brome grass, Common Nettle and Creeping Thistle.

The path has been colonized by a wide variety of plants including Black Medick, Mallow, White Clover and Shining Cranesbill.

The boundary walls have Pellitory-of-the-wall, Ivy-leaved Toadflax, and a single young Male Fem. Grass and a few tree seedlings colonize the copings.

Lichens

The churchyard lichens are well documented and 44 species were identified at the time of the survey in Spring 2004. The complete list appears in Appendix 2

The church building has a fairly typical species list for the area, Old Red sandstone does not normally attract a large number of lichen species. On the church walls there was a fairly good covering higher up the walls but the lower levels and the Tufa-rock type on the north wall were limited in their lichen cover.

The fairly low overall total of species is due in part to the absence of deciduous trees in the churchyard which normally produce their own set of common lichens.

The most notable species is the lichen occurring on the kerb of Harvey William Hodgkiss's grave beside the north wall of the chancel, which is the small thick greenish patch of Xanthoparmelia mougeotii, not often seen in Herefordshire.

Trees

The churchyard trees are well documented. The list is included in Appendix 3

The trees in the churchyard frame rather than over shade the area providing a useful backdrop and interest to the churchyard. Some of the trees appear to be self sown. The tree population in the churchyard has a limited age range with no very young newly planted trees. Some of the species are slow growing such as holly, however, the cypresses on the eastern boundary are probably younger, but of a similar height and dimension.

The Yew tree was by far the oldest tree in the churchyard and the largest in terms of its girth. This is partly the result of having been pollarded in the past, that is, having its limbs cut back and allowed to re-grow usually about shoulder height. The Yew shows signs of burry. growth, where many side shoots have sprung from the main stem.

The Lawson Cypress cultivars have been planted and they now form a thick screen along the wall and provide shelter.

The trees are mostly native seed producing species such as holly, which are mostly female and hawthorn which are both of high wildlife value. The groups of trees provide a 'woodland edge' effect, which is a valuable habitat for insects, particularly butterflies.

Fungi

Fungi were well documented, see Appendix 4

Over 50 species were recorded and all being typical of their habitat with none thought to be scarce or rare. Most were micro-fungus found during the spring and summer consisting of rusts, smuts and powdery mildews along with other colonizers of living, moribund and dead leaves on native and introduced plant species. All of the larger fungi were saprophytes including the Blewitts and Lepiota serena in leaf litter and compost and Vascellum, Agaricus campestris and the Mycenas growing in the shorter grass.

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Take Part

If you would like to take part, or would like to support this project, please email godsacre@lettonvillage.com for more details.