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The Churchyard
at St. Michael's Myland, which surrounds the Church building on
all sides, became a "closed Churchyard" in 2005. This means that
all available spaces for burials have been taken - either
burials have taken place, or plots have been purchased by local
residents for future burials. Management of the Churchyard has
therefore passed by law to Colchester Borough Council, who are
responsible for its upkeep, including cutting the grass and
managing the Conservation Area.
A small area
of the Churchyard has been retained for the interment of
cremated remains, which is available to all those who would
otherwise qualify for burial in the Churchyard.
Full records
are kept by the Church and by Essex Records Office of burials
and interments of cremated remains which have taken place in the
Churchyard. To make enquiries, please email us initially, and we
will advise as to whether the information is held with us or at
Essex Records Office. Please note that there is a scale of fees
for searches.
In 2005, prior
to closure, a Survey Report was commissioned which identified
the flora and fauna within the Churchyard, and made
recommendations as to how the various areas should be managed.
We are pleased to set out the report below.
Survey
Report
St.
Michael's Churchyard, Myland, Colchester
David R
Bain, March 2005
This medium
sized churchyard is undergoing two changes with its formal
closure this
month and transfer of management to the local council and
secondly the massive housing expansion all around. Over the last
2-3 years with building behind, the semi-rural aspect of the
churchyard is rapidly changing. This makes its secondary role as
a haven of peace and refuge for wildlife of increasing
importance.
Morant in "History & Antiquities of Essex" 1763-8 notes that
Mile-End or Myland is
"quite a rural parish" with only 94 charged Poll Tax in 1692.
"However, many houses or
rather cottages have been erected in several parts since" [in
first half of 18th Century. He describes the small, earlier St
Michaels Church and notes the first recorded rector as John
Hetoun in 1310. The present mid 19th century structure was built
on a new site. lt is noteworthy that surveys in Essex have found
churchyards of Victorian origin are often equally rich
ecologically as older sites. Myland is situated just north of
Colchester but is increasingly part of the urban area.
Historically the Royal Forest of Kingswood stretched across
Colchester’s northem fringe with areas of heath as well as
woodland.
The angled north boundary is probably an ancient ditch and bank
with remnants of a
mixed hedge of native species; also a fine oak here is the most
notable tree. The smaller ditch and bank running half-way back
on south side between church and parish hall seems an original
feature, its intermediate position may indicate the initial
extent of the mid 19th century site, with subsequent expansion?
The well maintained holly hedges on outer southern and eastern
narrower back boundary suggest a slightly later date.
The churchyard has been traditionally maintained with gradual
piecemeal cutting over the summer of the rear half and more
regular mowing in front and around the church.
The good selection of insects and wildflowers seen indicates
this pattern has been
sympathetic to wildlife while also keeping it a pleasant place
to visit. The back quarter
has under-managed in the past year in an area where untended
kerbed graves make
cutting not straightforward. The variety of wildflowers here has
also been somewhat
suppressed by tall robust grass such as cocksfoot and false
oat-grass. The soil in this back quarter may be heavier clay
while nearer the church it is lighter sandy soil — as noted when
a grave recently opened. lt is noteworthy that the lawn areas
have retained a good flora including species that cannot compete
in longer growth eg mouse-ear hawkweed and lady’s bedstraw. The
removal of grass-cuttings does prevent mulching and
over-enrichment.
Trees
The mature oak on north side of church has already been noted,
the pollard limes
[presume hybrid] behind the front wall are other large deciduous
trees, that are cut on 5 year cycle. Evergreen yew and holly are
in notable numbers and most of similar age. Two young coppiced
sallows at back of churchyard are unexpected and good early
pollen source for insects. There appear to be no obvious tree
problems and the absence of many very large ones means expensive
tree surgery is not an obvious, imminent concern. Sycamore
seedlings should be eradicated as they are invasive.
 Key
Y — Yew
H — Holly
Ht — Hawthorn
Lc — Lawsons Cypress
S — Sallow
O — Oak
E — Elm
El — Elder
YP — Yellow Privet
C — Cherry
Sy — Silver Birch
Flowerless
Plants
No attempt has been made to survey the mosses or lichen but
their presence should be
remembered, with the stonework of churchyard being important
habitat particularly for
the latter that are indicators of air quality as well as food
for some invertebrates. Fungi
similarly should be appreciated and churchyard grassland species
can include the
colourful Waxcap [Hygrocybe] group.
Insects & other invertebrates
The good numbers of insects seen last year impressed me — from
small harmless solitary bees and digger wasps in the spring to
gatekeeper brown butterflies and bumblebees on late flowering
purple knapweed. The light soil, bare areas on some graves and
old hedge banks are good for burrowing insects. The Common Blue
butterfly has already been mentioned and their caterpillar’s
foodplant: yellow birdsfoot trefoil. They have 2-3 generations
in the summer so are not always to be seen but I have seen up to
6 together here in 2003, on 3rd June 2004 I saw 3 together in
favoured central medium cut area where food-plant quite dense.
This is an important site for this butterfly whose name is now a
misnomer as it is no longer common. Although I have not seen
Holly blues, they should be present given quantity of holly; it
also uses ivy for second brood. My visits may not have coincided
with its flying season and it has been less numerous for past
2-3 years locally, probably due to parasite cycle. Last year on
28m April Green-veined Whites were noted on their f0od—plant
Garlic Mustard near bottom holly hedge. On 22nd July good
numbers of gatekeeper and skipper butterflies "nectaring" on
flowers, including non-native flat-leaved pink Sedum on some
kerb graves in central part. Bumblebees and even grasshoppers
enjoyed one patch. Roesel’s bush—cricket heard on last date, a
mobile species favouring longer grass, has greatly extended its
range within Essex in last ten years. Ants and their hills
should be allowed to flourish in the less mown areas. Green
woodpeckers depend on them as large food item. The gall on spear
thistle is caused by a gall insect — probably a tiny wasp.
Plant-Life
There is a good selection of wild flowering plants that were
once mostly common
grassland species. A list of those 1 have seen follows in 2004,
it is not exhaustive as this would require study over several
years at various seasons, but the obvious ones l hope have been
listed.
Common Horsetail [Equisetum arvense]
Wall Rue fern [Asplenium ruta-muraria]
Yew [Taxus
baccata]
Meadow buttercup [Ranunculus acris]
Bulbous buttercup [Ranunculus bulbosus]
Opium Poppy [Papaver somniferum]
Garlic Mustard [Alliaria petiolata]
Hairy Bittercress [Cardamine hirsute]
Common Whitlow Grass [Erophila verna]
Thale Cress [Arabidopsis thaliana]
Sweet Violet [Viola odorata]
Common St John’s Wort [Hypericum perforatum]
Square-stemmed St John’s Wort [ Hypericum tetrapterum]
Common Mouse-ear {Cerastium fontanum]
Lesser Stitchwort [Stellaria graminea] `
Common Chickweed [Stellaria media]
Common Lime [Tilia x vulgaris?]
Cut-leaved Cranesbill [Geranium dissectum]
Sycamore [Acer pseudoplatanus]
Holly {llex aquilofolium]
Common Birdsfoot trefoil [Lotus comiculatus]
Red Clover [Trifolium pratense]
Common Vetch [Vicia sativa]
Hairy Tare [Vicia hirsuta]
Common Hawthorn [Crataegus monogyna]
Creeping Cinquefoil [Potentilla reptans]
Hybrid Cinquefoil [P. anglica x reptans Mixta]
Barren Strawberry [Potentlla sterilis]
Cherry [Prunus sp]
Blackthorn [Prunus padus]
Dog Rose [Rosa canina]
Bramble [Rubus sp]
White Stonecrop [Sedum album]
Retlexed Stonecrop [ Sedum retlexum]
Ivy [Hedera helix]
Ground Elder [Aegopodium podagraria]
Bur Chervil [Anthriscus caucalis]
Cow Parsley [Anthriscus sylvestris]
Common Sorrel [Rumex acetosa]
Dock ?sp [Rumex]
Mind Your Own Business [Soleirolia soleirolii]
Stinging nettle [Urtica dioca]
Elm [Ulmus sp]
Birch [Betula sp]
Oak [Quercus robur]
Goat Willow/Sallow [Salix caprea]
Germander Speedwell [Veronica chamaedrys]
Common Field Speedwell [Veronica persica]
White
Deadnettle [Lamium album]
Red Deadnettle [Lamium purpureum]
Marjoram [Origanum vulgare]
Ribwort Plantain [Plantago lanceolata]
Greater Plantain [Plantago major]
Goosegrass [Galium aparine]
Lady’s Bedstraw [Galium verum]
Field Scabious {Knautia arvense]
Yarrow [Achillea millefolium]
Lesser Burdock [Arctium minus]
Daisy [Bellis perennis]
Knapweed [Centaurea ni gra]
Spear Thistle [Cirsium vulgare] ‘
Mouse-ear hawkweed [Hieracium pilosella]
Ox-eye daisy [Leucanthemum vulgare]
Common Ragwort [Senecio jacobaea]
Groundsel [Senecio vulgaris]
Dandelion [Taraxacum sp]
Spanish Bluebell [Hyacinthoides hispanica]
Field Woodrush [Luzula campestris]
Grey Sedge [Carex divulsa] or
Prickly sedge [ " muricata] ‘?
Grasses not recorded but include Sweet Vernal Grass [Anthoxanthum
odoratum] &
Yellow Oat [Trisetum flavescens]
Notable Plants
Wall Rue fern [Asplenium ruta-muraria]— is given
precedence as 6-8 plants growing
on inside of front wall just south of main entrance. This small
fern should be cherished as uncommon in our dry area.
Field Scabious [Knautia arvensis] — A smaller native
version of the familiar garden
plant, an indicator of lighter soils and not frequent in this
area.. Grows in area behind
parish hall.
Wild Marjoram [Origanum vulgare] — 2-3 plants seen
flowering in late summer near
Scabious, showy aromatic herb, pink flowers favoured by
butterflies - not to be confused with the similar species grown
in gardens. Normally grows on chalk, very rare in NE Essex, I
know of it in another churchyard at Thorpe-le-Soken - possible
accidental introduction with limestone monument?
Square-stalked St John’s Wort [Hypericum tetrapterum] -
Surprising record: 2 plants beside path in SE corner, a
marshland species, suggesting heavier retentive soil here - a
localised plant in this area.
Birdsfoot Trefoil [Lotus corniculatus] — While much more
widespread than above
species it is noteworthy in this churchyard for its quantity and
as a consequence
contribution of colour and success in supporting a reasonable
population of Common
Blue butterflies — see comments under insects.
Lady’s Bedstraw [Galium verum] — now largely confined to
old churchyards, esp next
to headstones where not mown out.
Key
F.S. — Field Scabious
Maxj — Marjoram
S.S.J. — Square—stemmed St Johns Wort
M.E.H. — Mouse—ear Hawkweed
L.B.S. — Lady’s Bedstraw
W.R. — Wall Rue
Pot. Mixta — Hybrid Potentilla
Carex — Sedge (2 clumps)
Sp.T. — Spear Thistle (galled)
Birds
The evergreen
yews and hollies will be a great bird attraction in the berry
season.
Localised tiny goldcrests have been heard especially on 25th
June 2004 a time suggestive of nearby breeding, they favour
evergreens. Coal tits should also be looked for with so many
evergreens in one place. Stock doves have been heard calling
here. The adjacent housing development may discourage them
remaining but a medium sized nest box might encourage them as
they unlike most other native doves are hole—nesters, so favour
old, undisturbed trees. The surrounding hedges as well as
grassland will become of increasing importance with the changes
all around for birds as well as other wildlife.
Mammals, Reptiles & Amphibians
My short
fairly random visits have not made recording more mobile,
secretive wildlife very feasible. I have seen evidence of fox
and rabbit and would expect the 4-5 common species of small
voles and mice as well as perhaps 1-2 species of shrew to be
present, also hedgehog. Common lizard and slow- worms are
likely, possibly grass-snake, frogs and even toads should visit
to feed in longer grass when damp. Building is disrupting the
corridors of natural habitat for such creatures to move about
and the isolation, movement and replenishment of populations
will become more problematic.
Conclusions
This is a pleasant churchyard with clear benefits for wildlife
that will become more
obvious with drastic changes to local environment. Several
management aspects have
already been pointed out and I would recommend as few changes to
the existing cutting frequencies as possible. That is
essentially continuing to divide the area into three with
frequency of cutting decreasing progressively towards back:
while appreciating the back third in 2004 was allowed to get a
little too long for some tastes. A smaller "leave alone" area
here that was cut on a two yearly basis would be useful however.
It is appreciated in writing this report that the churchyard’s
primary purpose must not be forgotten.
Suggested Cutting Frequencies
A - Lawned
area
B -
Intermediate
C - Least mown
with one small area left to over year
David R Bain
11/3/05
Selected References
Wildlife in Church and Churchyard: Nigel Cooper, Church House
Publishing, 2nd Edition
(2001)
God ’s Acre - Flowers and Animals of the Parish Churchyard:
Francesca Greenoak, WI
Books (1985)
Wild Flowers of NE Essex: Tarpey and Heath, Colchester Natural
History Society (1990)
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