This year the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) is celebrating its Centenary Anniversary and to mark the occasion CPRE Worcestershire is launching a competition to find the county's Best Eco Churchyard.
Unploughed and free from the industrial scale use of pesticides and fertilizers, burial grounds are unique and can be nurtured to become mini oases rich in biodiversity. Whether surrounded by an urban or a rural environment, burial grounds can offer sanctuary for wildlife, thereby enriching the visitor experience and helping to offset nature’s unchecked decline.
Churches should use the simple ‘Self-Score Sheet’ below to enter the competition. Certificates and prizes of £100, £75, £50 will be awarded to the top three burial grounds in person by the CPRE-W judges and by Dr Peter King, Chair of CPRE Worcestershire. Three emerging ‘Runners-Up’ will receive a certificate and a prize of £25 each. The self-score sheet also includes links to various websites that are full of practical information and help for churches looking to improve the biodiversity of their churchyards.
Andy Pitt, CPRE Worcestershire Trustee said: "Whoever and wherever you are in making your churchyard as eco-friendly as possible, a big thank you from CPRE Worcestershire for acting locally to help support nature’s recovery. We hope you will join in our Centenary Celebration Competition!"
The closing date for the competition has now been extended until 19 July 2026.
