Churches Count on Nature 2024: events near you

From 8 to 16 June is Churches Count on Nature 2024, a chance to explore and record the nature you can find in your local churchyard.

It is a week-long project that involves observing and documenting biodiversity in churchyards, for the National Biodiversity Network.

Recording nature encourages care of the wildlife in churchyards and provides local communities with a shared activity that can bring people together. It can also involve wider communities, so if you can, connect with local nature enthusiasts and make this an event for all to experience.

“For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” – Colossians 1:15-17

We are stewards of creation, and we have a responsibility to care for the natural world. By joining in with Churches Count on Nature, we can promote environmental awareness and appreciate the biodiversity around us.

Churches across the diocese are getting involved in different ways

Beacon Benefice

As well as hosting events throughout the week, Beacon Benefice is celebrating Creation throughout the whole month of June, with churchyard clear-ups, woodland walks, tree trails, and lots more.

For Churches Count on Nature week, the following events are taking place in the parishes of Cranham, Edge, Harescombe and Painswick:

Saturday 8 June

Cranham village is having an open gardens afternoon from 1pm to 5pm.

Sunday 9 June

Edge Church is having a morning of ‘Celtic Worship’, a churchyard clear up, a wildflower count and a BBQ, starting at 9.30am.

Harescombe Church is having an ‘All Things Bright & Beautiful’ worship with baptism at 2pm.

Cranham village is having a second afternoon of open gardens from 1pm to 5pm.

Painswick Church is hosting ‘Evensong for Creation’ at 6.30pm.

Monday 10 June

Cranham Village Hall is having a 50th Anniversary Summer Concert, performed by the Cranham village choir & orchestra at 7.30pm.

Tuesday 11 June

Painswick Church is hosting an ‘Morning Has Broken’ Eco Prayer with coffee at 9am.

Wednesday 12 June

Painswick Church is having a ‘History Walk’ which starts at Stamages Car Park at 10am, followed by coffee in the church rooms.

Thursday 13 June

Painswick Church is hosting ‘Toddlers on Tour’ St Marys Mums outdoor playtime from 9.15am in the church rooms.

Saturday 15 June

Painswick Church is doing a ‘Yew Trees & Cream Teas’ family tree trail, an art competition, and sponsor a yew tree at 2.30pm in Painswick churchyard.

Sunday 16 June

Harescombe Church is having a ‘Father’s Day Communion and BBQ’ at 11am.

Painswick Church is hosting ‘Our Father, the Creator’ guest preacher Revd Dr Cate Williams at 11am.

Tewkesbury Abbey

They are hosting a family friendly event on Saturday 8 June. They will be identifying wildlife, using bug boxes, identification charts and an optional iNaturalist app to record all the animals and plants that they spot in the Abbey Grounds. Guided bird watching and bug hotel making are also included.

St Mary’s Tetbury

Loads of events are happening over at St Mary’s Tetbury, also on Saturday 8 June. They are benignly trapping moths from the churchyard overnight and having a ‘moth reveal’, followed by a talk with expert Peter Martin. There will be an official count of wildlife, plant and craft stalls, an outdoor service, and a chance to see views from the church tower.

St James the Great, Dursley

This event includes nature drawing with a local artist, nature count and observations in the churchyard, and children’s eye-spy and craft activities. It is taking place on 1 June.

Details for all events and churches taking part this year can be found here. Send us your events to add to the round up.