Conservation charity launches new DVD highlights

The Beautiful Burial Ground

A new, 30-minute film, made by national conservation charity Caring for Gods Acre,
is set to take viewers on a journey from the remote country churchyards of the
Welsh borderlands, to the large urban cemeteries of the north-west.
Supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Allchurches Trust, The Beautiful
Burial Ground highlights many of the remarkable features found in the UKs
churchyards and burial grounds - from yew trees and meadowlands, through to the
man-made monuments and memorials.
Wild Edric Media was commissioned to make the DVD by Caring for Gods Acre,
and filmed it over a period of almost one full year. The documentary style film
features nationally renowned experts, and was shot in churchyards in Hope Bagot,
Bishops Castle, Whitton and Stanton Lacey in Shropshire, and Discoed in Powys.
The cemeteries featured include Toxteth Park Cemetery in Liverpool, and Crumpsall
Road Jewish Cemetery in Manchester.
The new DVD is a further step towards highlighting the many possibilities which
exist for the public to take full advantage of an estimated 20-30,000 such sites - a
remarkable collection of undesignated nature reserves scattered amongst our
towns, cities and country parishes.
Currently celebrating its 15 th year as a charity, Caring for Gods Acre not only shares
its vision of enhancing and conserving burial grounds - which are often ancient sites
full of life and a haven for nature - but also encourages people to use these
remarkable green spaces for learning, and for community activities such as
conservation work or special events.
As well as churchgoers, cemetery managers, teachers and specialist interest
groups, the general public also hold the key to the long-term future of these
fascinating sites. Burial grounds are, says the charity, places to go to in search of
nature, local history, community involvement, peace, and tranquility.
At a time when an incredible 98% of the UKs ancient, unspoiled grasslands have
disappeared since 1945, many of the older churchyard sites have remained virtually
unchanged for generations, allowing plants and animals to flourish alongside
historic monuments and memorials - and creating living sanctuaries, worthy of
conservation, at the very heart of communities across Britain.
Caring for Gods Acre has also recently launched a popular fold-out Guide to
Wildlife of Burial Grounds.
The charitys four-year National Project, funded by the Heritage Lottery, has
attracted the support of HRH The Prince of Wales and has, as its Patrons, Sir Roy

Strong, Professor David Bellamy, Lawrence Banks CBE and the Right Reverend Dr
Alan Smith.
Its current National Project features a wide range of activity, including a series of
regional conferences, specialist heritage skills training days, the production of
advisory materials such as the fold-out guide and DVD, a helpline, and the creation
of case studies illustrating several burial ground projects.
Copies of The Beautiful Burial Ground - priced at just 5 (plus 1 p&p) - which goes
on general release from Monday November 30, can be obtained by emailing
info@cfga.org.uk, or by writing to Caring for God's Acre at 11 Drovers House,
The Auction Yard, Craven Arms, Shropshire, SY7 9BZ. (Tel: 01588 673041).
For further details visit http://www.caringforgodsacre.org.uk.
Ends
For further information, please contact:
Sue Cooper
Tel: 01588-673041
Email: sue@cfga.org.uk
or,
Harriet Carty
Tel: 01588-673041
Email: harriet@cfga.org.uk
Using money raised through the National Lottery, the
Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) sustains and transforms a
wide range of heritage for present and future
generations to take part in, learn from and enjoy. From
museums, parks and historic places to archaeology,
natural environment and cultural traditions, we invest
in every part of our diverse heritage. HLF has
supported over 30,000 projects, allocating 4.7 billion
across the UK. Website: www.hlf.org.uk