St Peter's Church Newton Bromswold
Churchyard Conservation

The church porch and some of the gravestones	The mature blue cedar's branches have cones (top right)

The churchyard is renowned for the variety of wildlife of flowers to be found there. The Wildlife Trust for Northamptonshire has awarded a prize for Churchyard Conservation ten times to this little country churchyard. On the 26th of July 2006 Newton Churchyard was awarded First Prize in the county competition.

Bob Lines is the churchwarden and he has been responsible for tending the grounds for many years. He has chosen to do it in a way that protects all flora and fauna that ventures into this churchyard. He is careful to cut the grass selectively, leaving some areas to grow and flower naturally, and other parts are only cut after the flowers there have set their seed and dispersed them.

Many of the trees have bird boxes to encourage nesting, and there are also boxes to encourage bats to roost, and others in which bumble bees can build a nest. The wild plants that abound in the grass of the churchyard provide somewhere for several varieties of butterflies to lay their eggs and food for their lava, nectar for the bees, and insects for the birds to feed their young and for the bats.

A noticeboard in the church porch provides the visitor with information about all aspects of the wildlife that inhabits this delightful and peaceful corner of the village.

Recently the church has held a "Fritillary Day" in April when the wild flowers are at their best, and offers plants for sale and tea and cakes for refreshment of all visitors. The Church Fete is usually held around the first week of July when all the baby birds have fledged, and draws people from a wide area.