About Nature In Sacred Places

Nature in Sacred Places (NiSP) is a National Lottery Heritage Fund funded project to expand the accessibility and biodiversity of outdoor spaces at places of worship. It is a six-year, £6 million project combining the expertise of partners Natural England, Church of England, Bat Conservation Trust, Churches Conservation Trust and Caring for God’s Acre.

At its core, NiSP is a collaborative project to help people, nature and built heritage thrive together in churches, churchyards and other diverse sacred places.

Activities are being initially trialled in and around Birmingham and the Black Country, Wakefield, Rotherham and Doncaster and the Hereford Diocese with a focus on:

• Helping more places of worship: by working across England with an initial focus on towns and cities.
• Helping more wildlife: by teaching people how to take care of lots of different plants, animals and habitats.
• Developing new skills: by focussing on exteriors and outdoor monuments and different species.
• Making green space more accessible: by making outdoor spaces easier to enjoy for everyone.

“The National Lottery Heritage Fund is the largest funder for the UK’s heritage. Using money raised by National Lottery players we support projects that connect people and communities to heritage. Our vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future. From historic buildings, our industrial legacy and the natural environment, to collections, traditions, stories and more. Heritage can be anything from the past that people value and want to pass on to future generations. We believe in the power of heritage to ignite the imagination, offer joy and inspiration, and to build pride in place and connection to the past.”

Nature in Sacred Places is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players NiSP will focus on sub/urban areas across England not reached by BiC. Over five years, NiSP’s mix of activities, events, and library of lasting resources will help people, nature and built heritage thrive together (see timetable/engagement document for key audiences/proposed activities and impact). Creating volunteering and skill development opportunities will be central in all activities and events.

From the launch, project staff will work with faith leaders and local communities to set priorities for their local area. NiSP will empower people to protect and enhance the natural and built heritage in Sacred Places across England via its three work strands:

BROADENING ENGAGMENT

Fostering connections between people, nature, and heritage:

+ Outreach: Project staff will attend local events and meetings to publicise NiSP and work with religious and lay people to set local priorities

+ Pop-Up sessions to be held in libraries, community centres, and village halls with wildlife exhibits, displays, and crafts

+ Guided walks and talks in Sacred Places, introducing visitors to local wildlife and built heritage

+ Hands-on workshops covering wildlife-friendly gardening, bird and insect identification, gravestone care

+  Tailored interpretation

+ NightWatch – urban, nocturnal wildlife surveys using bat detectors and sound recorders. Open to all and supported with equipment, educational material and follow-up species data analysis. Optional training to enable volunteers to run future events

+ Outreach to faith-based groups, health/well-being organisations, and underserved neighbourhoods

+ Youth/Family activities: Challenge badges for youth groups, curriculum-linked lesson plans, mini wildlife exhibits

Resources:

+ Online resource library of ‘how to’ guides, learning materials, events calendar

+ Challenge Badge for youth groups

+ Regular e-newsletter series and online ‘Connect Café’ keeping volunteers informed about upcoming events, best practice tips, funding, and training opportunities

SUPPORTING PRACTICAL ACTION

Helping Sacred Places become havens for nature and people through hands-on restoration of built heritage, biodiversity improvements, and interpretation through thousands of volunteer days:

+ Sacred Place Management Plans to ensure heritage is properly cared for, informed by expert environmental and architectural surveys

+ Specialist cleaning workshops, guidance booklets, and starter toolkits for heritage preservation

+ Habitat enhancements such as bat/bird box installation, veteran/ancient tree surveys and specialist care, pollinator strips, log piles, and low intervention mowing regimes

+ Improved accessibility through support for minor physical site adaptations, clear interpretation, and comfort guides for hesitant visitors

Resources:

+ “How to…” guides about caring for memorials, access for all and wildlife gardening and conservation cleaning

+ Sacred Place Management Plans

+ Digital presentations covering key topics to inspire action

BUILDING PROFESSIONAL CAPACITY

Developing professionals’ skills and confidence to care for built and natural heritage, and encourage people into related fields of work:

+ Online training courses e.g. Bats in Heritage Buildings CPD course

+ CFGA Membership for all Sacred Places, for ongoing support and knowledge sharing

+ Heritage Advisor to guide built heritage preservation and provide updated guidance

+ Practical “How To” Toolkit Workshops for local site leaders and volunteers