Ivy and saplings should be removed from memorials and monuments.

Crumbling stones should be left standing unless they prove to be positively dangerous.
Not only do they testify most eloquently to the inevitable natural decay of most stone
but, by their breakdown, they can provide the habitat or mineral release which will
help to sustain some of the plants and animals characteristic of the particular soil

condition or pH.

Restrict cleaning to the absolute minimum and only use a soft brush and plain water.
Before you start, it is advisable to link up with your local lichenologist and genealogist
so that you can agree a course of action.

Parishes should be encouraged to use local stone, if at all possible, for new memorials.

A FINAL WORD

Field work in churchyards or cemeteries can be a new experience for the orthodox
geologist accustomed to wide-open spaces or quiet coasts where one rarely meets another
person. By contrast, many people from a local community find time or cause to sl A
into the churchyard or cemetery and they will nearly always have a curiosity as to what
you are doing. This can lead to a fruitful Contact and provide yet another challenge
to the commitment of how best to conserve our natural heritage in stone.

Seek out your local Geological Society; the local museum or County or Urban Wildlife
Trust may be able to help. If in doubt, the Geologists’ Association now acts as a ‘clearing
house’ for information, obtainable from its headquarters at Burlington House,
Piccadilly, London WlV 9AG. Tel: 071-4349298 (with an answerphone out of normal
office hours). '

USEFUL BOOKS
“Letts Pocket Guide to Rocks and Minerals", 1991.

Letts, London. £3 .50.

“Minerals and Rocks in Colour”, J. F. Kirkaldy, 1980.
Blandford Press. £5.95.

“St. Mary's Tombstone Trail", Eric Robinson, 1990.
The Friends of Homsey Church Tower.
From: Tim Denby-Wood, 33 Lynton Road, Crouch End,
London N8 8SR. £1 (inc. p&p).

“Earth Science Conservation” Series of leaflets and booklets. (Free).
Published by English Nature, Northminster House, Peterborough PEI IUA.

This leaflet is published as part of the Living Churchyard Project, obtainable from:
Church &: Conservation Project, Arthur Rank Centre,
National Agricultural Centre, Stoneleigh Park,
Warwickshire CV8 2LZ. Tel: 0203 696969 Ext.339.

Grateful acknowledgement to Eric Robinson for assistance with the text and to Bryan
Ceney for the cover photograph adapted from an original prepared for ‘Discovering
Butterflies in Churchyards' leaflet.

583/92 Printed by NAC Prim Services (0203) 696969 1992

 

Geology in the Churchyard