Run by villagers Abi Caine and Karen Harry, the group has grown since it first began eight years ago, helping to improve biodiversity, while creating an opportunity for locals of all gardening abilities to come together and lend their hands to a project benefiting the local environment.

Abi told us more about the group’s efforts. She said: “Myself and Karen live on opposite sides of the churchyard, and we just noticed it was not full of life like it should be.

“A big motivation for me was seeing just one knapweed flower amongst the grass. It was so sad to see this desert, and I wanted to do something about it.”

The churchyard is now closed for burials and is managed by Cornwall Council. As a result, the grass is cut four times a year, and for a long time this was scheduled in a way that didn’t benefit the natural environment. Cuttings were left in a heap and slowly began to rot, which allowed large weeds to spring up in place of wildflowers that could flourish there if given the chance, as Abi and Karen recognised.

“It just made the churchyard unsightly, andencouraged big plants like hogweed to spread,” Abi said. “Of course, there were a few birds as expected, but there were no grasshoppers or other species that were able to benefit from the space.”

There has been an increase in bird diversity and healthier numbers since the project started. This year, the team have had three broods of swallows which would have been helped by the improved insect life. Some birds have to eat their body weight in insects every day.

After approaching the church, Abi and Karen sat down and began to plan a volunteer group that would maintain the churchyard. Well-attended public meetings saw a huge wave of support for the project, and it was eventually agreed that the group would work with Cormac’s community engagement officer as community volunteers.

The group was bolstered by the Living Churchyards Initiative, Caring For God’s Acre, Cormac Community Volunteers, and the local church council and parish council. Abi and Karen design the cutting scheme for the churchyard, then advise Cormac on the best times of year to cut the grass, in a way that keeps the wildlife and wildflowers in mind, as well as acknowledging the site as a place to remember loved ones, ensuring relatives are able to access the churchyard whenever they wish to visit.

Then comes the essential part: raking! The group gathers to clear the cuttings, ensuring the ground does not become too fertile and preventing rot.

“It’s about making the ground suitable for wildflowers to grow,” said Abi. “We make the best possible use of what we have, and when the grass grows long, we can make sure the right things are growing there.”

With cutting and raking under control in the churchyard, the group have also had support from Forest for Cornwall to plant trees in the space; they have installed birdboxes; and had moth counts and bat surveys conducted to make sure all wildlife is able to thrive. In addition to the essential work being done for the environment, the group offers an opportunity for locals to come together and contribute to a positive project in their community.

Abi said: “We are very inclusive. If you just want to come and lean on your walking stick and chat, that’s fine. It’s about social connection, and it’s a lovely atmosphere. We get together, have a coffee and a chat - and there’s always cake too."

The South Petherwin Cake and Rakers welcome new volunteers, and are happy to talk to anyone wishing to start a similar project in their village. If you would like more information about the group, go to www.cakeandrakers.wixsite.com/wildlife or join the Facebook group.

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