Churchyards are among the most biodiverse habitats in England and Wales. Ancient, undisturbed, and often managed with care for centuries, they provide refuge for wildflowers, insects, birds, and lichens that have disappeared from the surrounding countryside. And every summer, thousands of Christians go out into them with clipboards and binoculars to count what's there.

Churches Count on Nature 2026 runs from 6 to 14 June, and registrations are now open. The initiative is supported by A Rocha UK and Caring for God's Acre, alongside the Church of England and the Church in Wales—a genuinely ecumenical effort to help churches understand and care for the natural world on their doorstep.

The numbers from last year are striking: over 380 counting events, more than 6,000 participants, and 8,668 records of 1,670 different species. This is not just a feel-good exercise. The data genuinely matters—it helps ecologists understand species distribution and helps churches make better decisions about how to manage their land. Many churches have altered their mowing regimes as a result, creating wild areas that support pollinators and other wildlife.

There is also something deeply theological about this work. To notice a bee orchid in a churchyard, to record a lichen species that has survived for centuries on a gravestone, to watch a sparrow hawk hunt over a wildflower meadow—these are acts of attention that honour the Creator. A Rocha UK has always understood that caring for creation is not a distraction from the gospel but an expression of it.

Registrations are free. All denominations are welcome. A webinar programme will support participants throughout the event. If your church has a churchyard, this is an invitation worth accepting.