--- title: Burial Grounds as Biodiversity Hotspots | Pixcellence description: Burial grounds are important for biodiversity for a variety of reasons. They support many species of lichen, fungi, and grassland plants. image: https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/hubfs/biodiversity-hotspots-1.jpg --- [![Pixcellence-Logo-CLR-Sidelock](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Pixcellence-Logo-CLR-Sidelock.png?width=312&height=75&name=Pixcellence-Logo-CLR-Sidelock.png) ![Pixcellence-Logo-CLR-Sidelock](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Pixcellence-Logo-CLR-Sidelock.png?width=312&height=75&name=Pixcellence-Logo-CLR-Sidelock.png)](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/) [![Pixcellence-Logo-CLR-Sidelock](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Pixcellence-Logo-CLR-Sidelock.png?width=312&height=75&name=Pixcellence-Logo-CLR-Sidelock.png)](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/) - [Topics](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/#px-topics) - [Biodiversity](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/what-is-biodiversity) - [UK Ecosystems & Habitats](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/ecosystems-types-examples-uk-guide) - [Climate & Nature](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/climate-change-what-is-it-uk-guide) - [Wildlife & the Law](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/protected-species-uk-guide) - [For Students & Teachers](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/#px-students) - [About](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/#px-about) - [All Guides](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog) - [Topics](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/#px-topics) - [Topics](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/#px-topics) - [Biodiversity](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/what-is-biodiversity) - [UK Ecosystems & Habitats](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/ecosystems-types-examples-uk-guide) - [Climate & Nature](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/climate-change-what-is-it-uk-guide) - [Wildlife & the Law](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/protected-species-uk-guide) - [For Students & Teachers](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/#px-students) - [About](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/#px-about) - [All Guides](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog) [Pixcellence Blog](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog) Categories **Browse All Categories** - [biodiversity](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/tag/biodiversity) - [conservation](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/tag/conservation) - [definition](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/tag/definition) - [climate change](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/tag/climate-change) - [photography](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/tag/photography) ![Clwyd Probert](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/hubfs/blog/authors/clwyd-probert-watercolour-400.webp) By [Clwyd Probert](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/author/clwyd-probert) on February 18, 2023 [biodiversity](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/tag/biodiversity) # Burial Grounds as Biodiversity Hotspots ## An Introduction To Biodiversity Hotspots - The importance of burial grounds for biodiversity - The importance of long grass in Welsh burial grounds - How to properly manage a burial ground to preserve its biodiversity - The [Biodiversity Hotspots](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/biodiversity-heritage-library-bhl) Across Wales Project - How volunteers are helping to preserve burial grounds ## What you can do to get involved in the project In this article, we'll be looking at the biodiversity of burial grounds. So this is the biodiversity information service and this is the area that we cover in the red outline in mid-wales. We're one of four local environmental record centres, or LERCs, that cover the whole of Wales and we all collect the wildlife records for our region. Our area and then we make all those available on a website database that's available for people who need to use those wildlife records to make decisions such as for management plans for wildlife trust sites example and also for research and also for planning decisions as well. We also support a network of wildlife recorders across our area and collaboratively across the whole of Wales and we also encourage new people maybe such as yourselves to get involved in recording the wildlife that you see. Our area, Powys and the Brecon Beacons National Park, has no coastline: it is the only local environmental records centre area in Wales without one. We want to make wildlife more accessible to everyone, so we encourage people like you to make biological records of the wildlife you observe. These records can then be turned into "dots on the map," allowing us to visualize the distribution of different species in a given area. For example, let's take a look at the [tree bumblebee records in Brecon Beacons National Park (Bannau Brycheiniog)](https://www.nhsn.org.uk/species/tree-bumblebee/). The tree bumblebee is easily recognizable with its orange thorax, black body, and white tail. In the park, each record appears as a dot on the map. But these records do more than just show us where the tree bumblebees are. They also tell a story. The tree bumblebee was first recorded in Britain in 2001 and is now found across England and Wales and much of Scotland, so a map like this can show a species spreading over time ([Bumblebee Conservation Trust](https://www.bumblebeeconservation.org/news/introducing-the-tree-bumblebee/)). Making wildlife records is easy and accessible, thanks to apps like the LERC Wales app and [iRecord](https://irecord.org.uk/app). These apps can be downloaded onto your smartphone or used online, and they only require four pieces of information to make a proper record: what you saw, where and when you saw it, and who saw it. All of the wildlife records in Wales end up on an online database called the [Biodiversity Information Service](https://www.bis.org.uk/), which anyone can use. One of the most useful tools on the website is the "What's in My Area" tool, which allows you to see a list of all the wildlife species that have been recorded in a given area. So why not give it a try? Download the app, make some records, and explore the biodiversity in your area. You can find out more on the [Biodiversity Information Service website](https://www.bis.org.uk/). Burial grounds are important hot spots for biodiversity across Wales. They are often old, undisturbed pieces of land that contain a rich diversity of grasses, flowers, and animals. However, they are under threat from development, closure, and mismanagement. In order to preserve these important sites, it is important to manage them properly. This includes cutting the grass to a variety of different heights, removing grass clippings, and keeping wildflower areas away from compost areas. By doing this, we can ensure that these sites remain important hot spots for biodiversity. ## The Importance of Long Grass in Welsh Burial Grounds ![Watercolour of an ancient sacred grove with langur monkeys and a hornbill, the kind of protected sacred site that shelters local biodiversity.](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/biodiversity-hotspots-burial-grounds.jpg?width=640&height=640&name=biodiversity-hotspots-burial-grounds.jpg) Burial grounds in Wales are important not only for their role in providing a final resting place for the dead but also for the role they play in supporting a variety of plant and animal life. One of the most important features of these burial grounds is the long grass that is allowed to grow in some areas. ### The long grass is important for a number of reasons. First, it gives wildflowers time to flower and set seed. Cutting the grass late in the summer and removing the clippings keeps the soil low in nutrients, which favours wildflowers over coarse grasses. Second, the long grass provides habitat for a variety of animals. Butterflies, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals all benefit from the long grass. These animals are important for the health of the ecosystem as a whole. Third, the long grass helps to prevent erosion. When the ground is left bare, it is more susceptible to erosion from wind and rain. The long grass helps to hold the soil in place and prevent it from being washed away. Fourth, a mix of short and long grass suits more species. Short grass by paths and graves keeps the site accessible, while longer areas give insects shelter and food. Finally, the long grass is simply aesthetically pleasing. It adds beauty and interest to the burial ground, making it a more enjoyable place to visit. So, next time you visit a Welsh burial ground, take a moment to appreciate the long grass. It is doing important work to support the ecosystem and to make the burial ground a more beautiful place. ## The Importance of Burial Grounds for Biodiversity Burial grounds are important for biodiversity for a variety of reasons. They support many species of lichen, fungi, and grassland plants, which provide food and shelter for a variety of birds, bats, and other animals. Burial grounds also provide roosting sites for bats and nesting sites for birds. The Biodiversity Hotspots Across Wales pilot project, run by Caring for God's Acre, surveyed 52 burial grounds, and a botanist recommended 16 as potential Local Wildlife Sites. It also worked with 26 council-run cemeteries in Flintshire and Powys, and biodiversity increased at every pilot site. A follow-on project, Hafanau Heddwch, is in its development phase until September 2027 ([Caring for God's Acre](https://www.caringforgodsacre.org.uk/the-importance-of-welsh-burial-grounds/)). Regular recording of the wildlife in burial grounds is important to help establish the distribution and size of populations and to detect changes over time. Records can also be used to help protect species and habitats from harm.   Burial grounds are important places for biodiversity. Caring for God's Acre's Beautiful Burial Ground project ran for four and a half years across England and Wales. About 20,000 people took part, and the project produced more than 87,000 new heritage records across 6,273 burial grounds ([Caring for God's Acre](https://www.caringforgodsacre.org.uk/celebrating-the-beautiful-burial-ground-project/)). Each June, Love Your Burial Ground Week encourages people to record wildlife in their local burial ground. Records from the project can be looked up burial ground by burial ground on the Beautiful Burial Ground portal. If you would like to get involved in recording, there are some resources that may help, including a starter guide and a botanical companion. These publications can help you identify wildlife in burial grounds. There are also resources available in Welsh and English, including an action pack for managers, an education pack for primary schools, and resources to help with recording. Let us know what species you find in a burial ground near you, and if you have a well-managed site that you feel could be added to the map of recommended sites.   ## FAQ Q: What are burial grounds?  A: Burial grounds are important hot spots for biodiversity across Wales. They are often old, undisturbed pieces of land that contain a rich diversity of grasses, flowers, and animals. Q: What is the importance of burial grounds?  A: Burial grounds are important for biodiversity because they are often old, undisturbed pieces of land that contain a rich diversity of grasses, flowers, and animals. Q: What are the threats to burial grounds?  A: The main threats to burial grounds are development, closure, and mismanagement. Q: How can we preserve burial grounds?  A: In order to preserve burial grounds, it is important to manage them properly. This includes cutting the grass to a variety of heights, removing the clippings, and keeping compost heaps away from wildflower areas.   Q: What are the benefits of long grass in Welsh burial grounds? A: The long grass is important for a number of reasons. First, it gives wildflowers time to flower and set seed. Cutting the grass late in the summer and removing the clippings keeps the soil low in nutrients, which favours wildflowers over coarse grasses. Second, the long grass provides a habitat for a variety of animals. Butterflies, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals all benefit from the long grass. These animals are important for the health of the ecosystem as a whole. Third, the long grass helps to prevent erosion. When the ground is left bare, it is more susceptible to erosion from wind and rain. The long grass helps to hold the soil in place and prevent it from being washed away. Fourth, a mix of short and long grass suits more species. Short grass by paths and graves keeps the site accessible, while longer areas give insects shelter and food. Finally, the long grass is simply aesthetically pleasing. It adds beauty and interest to the burial ground, making it a more enjoyable place to visit. Q: Why are burial grounds important for biodiversity? A: Burial grounds are important for biodiversity for a variety of reasons. They support many species of lichen, fungi, and grassland plants, which provide food and shelter for a variety of birds, bats, and other animals. Burial grounds also provide roosting sites for bats and nesting sites for birds.   ## CONCLUSION Burial grounds are important hot spots for biodiversity across Wales. They are often old, undisturbed pieces of land that contain a rich diversity of grasses, flowers, and animals. However, they are under threat from development, closure, and mismanagement.  In order to preserve these important sites, it is important to manage them properly. This includes cutting the grass to a variety of different heights, removing grass clippings, and keeping wildflower areas away from compost areas. By doing this, we can ensure that these sites remain important hot spots for biodiversity.   Burial grounds are important for biodiversity for a variety of reasons. They support many species of lichen, fungi, and grassland plants, which provide food and shelter for a variety of birds, bats, and other animals. Burial grounds also provide roosting sites for bats and nesting sites for birds. The Biodiversity Hotspots Across Wales pilot project, run by Caring for God's Acre, surveyed 52 burial grounds, and a botanist recommended 16 as potential Local Wildlife Sites. It also worked with 26 council-run cemeteries in Flintshire and Powys, and biodiversity increased at every pilot site. A follow-on project, Hafanau Heddwch, is in its development phase until September 2027 ([Caring for God's Acre](https://www.caringforgodsacre.org.uk/the-importance-of-welsh-burial-grounds/)). Regular recording of the wildlife in burial grounds is important to help establish the distribution and size of populations and to detect changes over time. Records can also be used to help protect species and habitats from harm.   Share [![Share on Facebook](https://www.lean-labs.com/hs-fs/hubfs/LLv2/images/icon-blog-facebook.png?noresize&width=24&name=icon-blog-facebook.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pixcellence.co.uk%2Fblog%2Fbiodiversity-hotspots%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on LinkedIn](https://www.lean-labs.com/hs-fs/hubfs/LLv2/images/icon-blog-linkedin.png?noresize&width=24&name=icon-blog-linkedin.png)](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pixcellence.co.uk%2Fblog%2Fbiodiversity-hotspots%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dlinkedin) [![Share on Twitter](https://www.lean-labs.com/hs-fs/hubfs/LLv2/images/icon-blog-twitter.png?noresize&width=24&name=icon-blog-twitter.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pixcellence.co.uk%2Fblog%2Fbiodiversity-hotspots%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pixcellence.co.uk%2Fblog%2Fbiodiversity-hotspots%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Burial%20Grounds%20as%20Biodiversity%20Hotspots%20%7C%20Pixcellence) Published by [Clwyd Probert](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/author/clwyd-probert) February 18, 2023 ![Clwyd Probert](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/hubfs/blog/authors/clwyd-probert-watercolour-400.webp) [![Watercolour study of an open antiquarian natural history book on a wooden reading desk, with a hand-coloured bird plate visible beside a botanical engraving — illustrating the material the Biodiversity Heritage Library digitises and shares as open-access scans.](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/hubfs/blog/images/bhl-archive-hero-20260516-110000.webp) Read More](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/biodiversity-heritage-library-bhl) [biodiversity](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/tag/biodiversity) By [Clwyd Probert](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/author/clwyd-probert) on February 18, 2023 ### [Biodiversity Heritage Library (BHL): 2026 UK Guide](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/biodiversity-heritage-library-bhl) [![Watercolour of an English landscape split in two: ancient oak woodland with a roe deer, fox and songbirds on one side, and freshly cleared ground with tree stumps on the other.](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/hubfs/blog/images/habitat-destruction-hero.webp) Read More](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/habitat-destruction) [biodiversity](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/tag/biodiversity) By [Clwyd Probert](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/author/clwyd-probert) on November 01, 2026 ### [Habitat Destruction: Causes, Effects and How to Stop It](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/habitat-destruction) [![Watercolour contrasting a short mown grass verge beside a new estate road with a species-rich hay meadow of yellow rattle, buttercup and knapweed behind a wooden fence, with a meadow brown butterfly and a mature oak.](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/hubfs/blog/images/statutory-metric-hero-20261029-20261029-112418.webp) Read More](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/statutory-biodiversity-metric-explained-guide) [biodiversity](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/tag/biodiversity) By [Clwyd Probert](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/author/clwyd-probert) on October 29, 2026 ### [The Statutory Biodiversity Metric Explained: Strengths, Criticisms and Evidence (2026)](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/statutory-biodiversity-metric-explained-guide) [Pixcellence](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/) Every guide cites UK primary sources, keeps evidence separate from interpretation, and shows when it was last updated. 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