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Notices (Other) - Islands of Hope I Go Native! 39Islands of HopeYOLANDE HESLOP-HARRIsoN, Old Post, Hatfield, Nr Leominster, Herefordshire, HR6 OSFTelevision naturalist and environmentalcampaigner, Professor David Bellamy, OBE, wasthe keynote speaker and gave a brilliant openingaddress at the national conference held in Ludloworganised by Caring for God's Acre (CFGA) toan enthusiastic audience. The title of this note ishow he described many of our churchyards,which have become refuges for much of ourvanishing native flora and fauna.This was the start of an action-packed two daysfor some 100 delegates and interested parties whocame to hear how churchyards, apart from beinghavens for the conservation of wildlife, offer atremendous potentiality for learning about manyother aspects of the earth's history.The delegates and many well-known leadingexperts came from all over England and Wales,and a full report of the conference will bepublished later. Sue Cooper, managementOfficer ofCFGA and her band of willing contributorsand helpers are to be congratulated on howwell the conference was organised. During anevening dinner, Francesca Greenoak, well knownauthor of the book God's Acre, spoke to an appreciativeaudience. The Revd Nick Read, Chairmanof the Trustees of CFGA, was a masterfulco-ordinator.As Sue says: 'The churchyard represents amulti-faceted resource to the community as awhole' embracing archaeology, our own historyand culture, genealogy, as well as bio-diversity.One morning was devoted to a series oftutorialsand workshops, at which speakers gave talksbased on their own expertise, answered questionsand led discussions. These ranged from details ofthe plant life (including wild flowers, grasses,trees - notably ancient yews - lichens, mossesand fungi), associated animals, and the non-living.Professor Eric Robinson, President of theGeologists' Association, was keen to show thatthe whole gamut of native wildlife to be found inchurchyards was based on what lay beneath andin or on its turf and soil layers. Other speakersdetailed the relationships between the characterofthe stonework (friability, and effects ofweathering,pH) and aspect (degree of shading, northand south facing) and the associated lichens.Exhibits and conducted tours of some churchyardsin the vicinity were included in the agenda- all again highlighting the diversity of what isinvolved in 'cherishing churchyards', the themeof the conference.Aspects of the rules and regulations governingchurchyards and burial grounds in relation to lawformed an important tutorial, and the fmal afternoonwas devoted to a symposium arising fromeach workshop, and a general discussion on aproposal to initiate a national network on churchyardcare.The challenges that exist for churchyardmanagement to strike a balance between humanand wildlife interests are immense. They involvethe whole community - local people, specialistsof various sorts, those seeking records of theirancestry, passers-by. Perhaps churchyards arevisited by a greater diversity of people than anyother public space.The Revd Nigel Cooper (Chaplain to theCambridge Campus and Advisor on churchyardconservation in Ely), spoke of the mission ofchurchyards - 'a theology of conservation'.Some aspects of churchyard management liedeep and, indeed, become a mission for many -or even a passion!Go Native!Awards across Britainfor wildflower meadows, grassland, woods, reedbeds and heathlandWENDY TOBITT, Flora locale, Denford Manor, Hungerford, Berks. RG17 OUNSix exciting, innovative and ecologicallydiverseprojects from Cornwall to Newcastleare the winners of the national Flora localeGo Native! Planting for Biodiversity Awards.The national Go Native! Planting for BiodiversityAwards run by Flora locale and theInstitute of Ecology and EnvironmentalManagement (IEEM) were announced on 16May. Flora locale is the charity that promotesthe wise use and supply of native flora. Theawards were made to projects that promotedgood practice in habitat creation and restoration,and used source-identified plantingstock of appropriate origin for conservationplanting and restoration projects in thecountryside and urban areas. Details of thewinners and all the finalist projects are onwww.floralocale.org