June 23 2010
News from Canterbury Diocese
For immediate use

Kent 'God's Acre Project' launch
promotes Churchyard Conservation

A new initiative which encourages wildlife diversity in churchyards was launched by the Bishop of Dover, the Right Reverend Trevor Willmott at a special event at St Martin of Tours Church Detling near Maidstone on Saturday June 19th. The event was attended by representatives from partner organisations including the Chief Executive of Kent Wildlife Trust. Mr John Bennett.

The Kent 'God's Acre Project' will provide advice, training, tools and support for churches to encourage wildlife diversity in their churchyards. The project, which is headed up by the Anglican Dioceses of Canterbury and Rochester, will operate with the help of other partner organisations across the county.

Bishop Trevor said: "Caring for our churchyards will help us to celebrate the generations that have gone before, as well as preserving the flora, fauna and social history for future generations." The Bishop also spoke about the importance of working in partnership with other organizations and praised the work of Kent Wildlife Trust.

Rural Life and Environmental Adviser for Canterbury and Rochester Dioceses, the Reverend Caroline Pinchbeck commented: "We are delighted to launch the 'God's Acre Project' at the start of the national 'Cherishing Churchyards' week, in this the UN's International Year of Biodiversity."

Other partner organisations involved with the 'God's Acre Project' include the Kent Bat Group, Kent Mammal Group, Kent Reptile and Amphibian Group, BTCV, Kent Heritage Trees Project and the British Lichen Society.

Ends

Photo 1: shows KWT Chief Executive John Bennett and Bishop Trevor tending to the churchyard of St Martin of Tours Church Detling.

Photo 2: Shows the Bishop of Dover and representatives from other organisations unveiling the God's Acre logo.

Notes:

Further information about the project or the launch: Emily Shepherd, Director of Communications, Canterbury Diocese, 07876 210 446

or Revd Caroline Pinchbeck, Rural Life and Environmental Adviser for Canterbury and Rochester Dioceses Tel: 01795 890487 or 0789 443 4032
Canterbury Diocese: www.canterburydiocese.org
Kent Wildlife Trust: www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk
UN's International Year of Biodiversity, www.biodiversityislife.net