Management Plan for Letton churchyard at www.lettonvillage.com

To maintain and enhance the natural beauty and the wildlife and historic interest
whilst presenting an attractive and cared for appearance.

To develop and create interpretation for the churchyard

To develop and support its wider use for the community and
their involvement in its care and management

Grassland

To create and conserve a mosaic of grassland for the benefit of wildlife
whilst maintaining a cared for appearance.

To devise a cutting regime which is manageable.

Management recommendations

The current management is a good balance which allows access whilst giving a cared for appearance

Area A
Keep the grass short to the front of the church and around recent graves
Cut a metre wide strip along the southern edge of the path to keep grass short.
Cut a metre wide margin around the southern section as shown in the plan.
Rake off and remove all cuttings.

Area B
Cut the southern section in late July and again in late September
Remove the grass cuttings after 3 to 4 days
Cut a path through Area B to the Cypress hedge as shown in the plan and keep close mown.
Erect a temporary fence and graze with sheep in October/November to leave area short during winter and early spring

Area C
Cut this area to the back of the church monthly during the growing season and remove cuttings to control thistles, keep it tidy and allow for inspections and maintenance.

Area D
Under the trees in area D strim as necessary to control course weeds.
Remove the cut material.

The main path can be maintained by regular close cutting and only resort to the use of a herbicide on the path if the plants get out of control. Do not use chemicals anywhere else as they are damaging to stonework and can open up bare areas of soil allowing unwanted plants to colonize.

A sheet of tin (60-90cm) could be placed in a south facing position to create a warm area for reptiles to bask and shelter. Small mammals may also nest underneath it.

A dedicated compost heap could be created in corner which would provide a habitat for amphibians and reptiles such as slow-worm

Monitor grassland management by re-surveying after 3 to 5 years.

Walls, gravestones and other masonry

To maintain in a safe condition and conserve stone structures for their historic and wildlife interest

Management recommendations

Appoint a person to be responsible for Health and Safety H&S See details Appendix 7
Act on any recommendations from archaeological survey

Stone walls
Control grass, if possible and remove tree seedlings. Those seedlings that are too large to remove carefully without causing damage should be cut right back every year. Glyphosate or Round up at the correct strength may be administered to the cut ends, to kill the seedlings. following H&S guidelines.

Inspect walls annually for damage, looking for woody stemmed plants e.g. ivy and saplings which may have colonised and remove them, Maintain walls in good condition. If re-pointing then soft lime mortar is preferred. Should repair, re-pointing, cleaning be necessary then treat a section of the wall in any 5 year period.

Gravestones
Inspect annually and remove ivy from those gravestones where it is easy to do so. Leave lichen growth on stonework, it causes little damage and protects from weathering.

Do no use chemicals around stonework. The chemicals are drawn up by capillary action and damage lichens and stains the stone. The only case where this differs is if woody plants on stonework need to be eradicated, then apply carefully following H&S guidelines.

Trees

To maintain in a healthy and safe condition

To enhance the wildlife and amenity value of the trees

Recommendations for management

Check trees annually in September/October. See notes Appendix 8 on tree inspections.

Inspection by qualified forester every 3 years
Seek advice from a forester should any new trees be planted
For recommended tree management works 2002 2005 refer to Appendix 9)

Create a small log pile in a shaded part of the churchyard but not directly under trees
Erect bat boxes in groups of 3 on larger trees to enhance roosting potential.
Erect bird boxes. For information on construction and siting contact RSPB

1. False Acacia - Watch ivy growth. Cut through at the base should it start to dominate the crown.
2. Hawthorn - Watch ivy growth.
3. Holly - Trim lower branches to show the yew and ease access around the churchyard.
4. Holly - as no 3.
5. Holly - as no 3.
6. English Yew - Trunk has been pruned at different times, but the tree is very healthy. Remov grass cuttings and compost from the base.
7. Holly - Has some rot and is obscuring some graves. Consider removal.
8. Lawson Cypress - Nos 8 - 11 are very close grown. Recommend removal or 7 - 11 as priority three.
9. Lawson cypress
10. Lawson cypress
11. Lawson cypress

Consider tree planting of perhaps one or two trees to increase the age range on the site. Keep choice simple and choose from native species - English or sessile oak, field maple, ash, English yew, silver birch, wild cherry or gean.

Church Building

To maintain the building in good condition through management of flora and fauna.

Recommendations for management

Inspect the building for ivy annually and remove.
Inspect for any saplings establishing close to foundations and remove.
Leave and monitor any lichen growth or soft stemmed plants such as ferns.
Should any work take place on the church tower then care must be taken not to disturb bats or to block the access. Consult a local bat worker.
To assist in church cleaning areas most used by bats such as the pulpit area could be covered with a washable or wipe able material such as a wipe able table-cloth Bat droppings, which are dry can then be swept up

Interpretation, Education and Access

To interpret the churchyard in order to raise the awareness and interest of the visitor and local people to the value and interest in the churchyard

To provide a safe place of beauty and peace for quiet reflection and contemplation

To promote and support the churchyard as a place for lifelong learning

Recommendations

Keep hard surfaced paths in safe condition and mow grassy paths regularly
Produce an interpretation plan for the churchyard, which may include any of the following:
Display board at the churchyard entrance
Detailed exhibition inside the church or church porch. perhaps changing to maintain interest through the seasons.
Leaflet/s guiding visitors around the churchyard and pointing out things of interest.
Special interpretation for children e.g. churchyard trail leaflet
Small whiteboard in the church entrance for immediate recordings of wildlife seen in the churchyard
Wildlife recording book inside the church
Erection of conservation area signs as appropriate
Organisation of appropriate events and celebrations

Carry out risk assessment and review, see Appendix 7

Entrance gates, check annually for safety and repairs. Do not paint or treat old wood with preservative
Maintain any churchyard seating in safe condition.
Promote the churchyard to the local school for field study use.
Consider producing a special teacher's pack.
Promote the church and the churchyard to local groups for study and interest

Monitoring and Review

To check that the management is achieving the objectives and alter as appropriate.

Note and deal with any problems encountered in the management

Visitors

Monitor visitors e.g. numbers, where from, comments via visitors book.

Security

Be aware of the potential for theft or damage to plants and other items.
Appoint a suitable volunteer to investigate methods of ensuring churchyar6 and church security.

>>> Proceed to the next page: Appendices >>>

Take Part

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