Bridport: St Mary's Church in full bloom for wildlife

Photos taken at St Mary's Church show an abundance of wildflowers including poppies, bluebells and calendulas. 

The decision to grow these wildflowers originally came after concerns about a sprawling shrub in the yard which was becoming a hotspot for littering. 

Wildflowers at St Mary's Church in Bridport (Image: Deb Smith)

Since the shrub was removed, the church community decided to take advantage of the green space to promote wildlife and biodiversity in the area. 

Canon Deb Smith, Rector of Bridport, said: “Churchyards are a natural way to promote the environment as they’re in the centre of the communities. Many churches are doing the same. 

"We have a volunteer gardening group who work really hard. Some are churchgoers but most are from the wider community who have joined in wanting to look after green spaces.

“We decided to plant wildflowers on the churchyard and see what would happen. It was amazing.

"I think wildflowers are particularly popular as I’ve noticed people in there taking pictures and enjoying the views."

As part of this green movement, St Mary's Church also took part in Bridport Gardening Club's community flax project in April.

Long grass on cemetery side of St Mary's Church, Bridport (Image: Deb Smith)

The club invited the residents of Bridport  to supply seeds to people to grow one square metre of flax – the crop which makes linen.

Deb Smith added: "This is very fitting for Bridport as it used to be a rope making town and it’s more eco-friendly than synthetics.”

The green area seems to be popular with Bridport residents with one describing it as a "really beautiful churchyard" and another commenting that cemeteries are "ideal" sites for promoting biodiversity.

Jill Turner said: "I walk through St Mary’s Churchyard regularly and love seeing the round patch in the centre of the mown grass that’s been allowed to grow tall.

"It’s a mass of colourful wild flowers and teeming with bees and insects. I’m really grateful that those responsible for care of the ground have made space for nature to thrive."

While many have praised the abundance of flowers on the site, some residents have expressed concern on social media about the long grass on the cemetery site.

Long grass at St Mary's Church cemetery in Bridport (Image: NQ)

Some say the priority should be showing "respect for the dead" with one person confirming "it's a cemetery not a nature reserve."

In response to these concerns, Deb Smith said: “St Mary's closed churchyard is very old and the gravestones are also quite old. Though if there ever was a problem, we would address it, the gardening group has cut pathways through to help make it more accessible.

“It is not left untended but it’s a different kind of tending to encourage wildlife which is really important.”