Welcome An English Churchyard Their colours will fit in well with the surrounding landscape and continue the St Mary’s Churchyard is visited by many Local Stone sense of timeless English peace. people who value its sense of peace and You will notice that headstones in the calm. It is a place where loved ones have Churchyard are of York Stone, fitting in been laid to rest in peace and are visited with the material from which the Wildlife by family and friends for many years. Church itself is built and blending in Butterflies, bees and other wildlife will with the surrounding countryside. visit the Churchyard when there are The Churchyard is maintained by the plants of the nearby fields and Parochial Church Council (PCC) of St Country plants hedgerows. Mary’s Church and many people There are snowdrops in some parts of comment on how well it is cared for. the Churchyard, originally planted in Individual graves are tended by the graves and now spreading. Visiting the Churchyard families and friends of those who rest there. Small bulbs are ideal for a natural, The Churchyard is open for people to country site. In the boundary grass come whenever they are able to. Families work in partnership with each under the trees there are naturalized There are benches so that visitors can other and with the PCC to ensure that bulbs which come up year after year, spend time absorbing the peace and the Churchyard continues to be a place announcing the arrival of Spring and calm of the Church and its of reverence and beauty for all. reminding us of new life after a long surroundings. winter. Working together to keep St Mary’s Green waste bins for (biodegradable) Churchyard as a place where people Other bulbs which are suitable for materials are provided at the church feel comforted, calm and peaceful planting are short daffodil and narcissus entrance steps, church North side and varieties (the tall ones tend to blow the Millennium Garden The overall atmosphere of the over). Small, hardy corms such as small Non degradable items such as plastic, Churchyard depends on a balance cyclamen (for example, coum and wreaths with wire and wrapping should between the individual memorials hederifolium varieties) may naturalize. be deposited in the black bins. Please tended. While some of the regulations ensure that bouquets of flowers are are for safety reasons, others are to keep Whatever is planted should be able to be unwrapped before placing on the graves the overall aspect of the Churchyard mown once the foliage has died back and the plastic discarded carefully, in welcoming for everyone. after flowering. the black bins as it blows around other graves. The regulations drawn up by the Primroses (primula vulgaris) and Diocese of York are to ensure the cowslips are other countryside and If you have any questions about what is balance is kept. If you would like a copy, hedgerow plants which naturalize well. appropriate for the grave you are please contact the Parish Office or the A carpet of snowdrops followed by tending, please do not hesitate to website: primroses and small daffodils looks contact the Parish Office or www.stmarys-nunthorpe.org.uk natural and requires low maintenance. Churchwardens.

Maintaining the Churchyard A summary for your guidance The Parish of Expressing our love and care in St Mary the Virgin The Vicar and Churchwardens are keeping with an English Churchyard Nunthorpe in Cleveland committed to handing the Churchyard on to the future with the same character Fresh flowers are always delightful and we have inherited from the past. add to the beauty of the churchyard. When they fade, they can be placed in For this reason we draw the attention of the green bins for recycling. all those who tend graves to the Churchyard Regulations, so that we can Bulbs planted to naturalize; work together to provide a fitting resting snowdrops, short daffodils or narcissi place for the Parishioners of Nunthorpe. and hardy cyclamen bring pleasure every Spring and return into the grass. We invite all who tend and care for St Mary’s graves to check that you are working Christmas wreaths of natural foliage within the Churchyard Regulations, are welcome from mid-December to the Churchyard summarised in this leaflet. end of January, when the bulbs will take over.  a place of peace and calm If you find that there are aspects of your  around a beautiful English grave which are outside the regulations, Some items which are not permitted Parish Church we ask you to arrange to remove them because they are dangerous or out of  with a breathtaking view of as soon as possible. Do please speak to keeping with the Churchyard: the Vicar if you are unsure and would  where people come to reflect like advice. If you would like help to Glass or other breakable or sharp items  to give thanks, to find solace restore your grave to be within the Pictures, portraits or photographs  and to remember loved ones regulations, we will be pleased to assist Statues or ornaments of any kind The view of Roseberry Topping and the as we understand it is not always easy Trees, shrubs or any plants in the is renowned and much- for relatives to visit. ground itself (Regulation Oct 05). admired. As the weather and the Birdbaths. seasons change, the view is always We very much hope you will find Kerbs, railings or chains. stunning and often inspiring. comfort visiting St Mary’s Artificial flowers (plastic, etc) except The Churchyard has a timelessness rare th in our busy world, where past, present Churchyard and peace in the Remembrance poppies around 11 Nov. Chippings, gravel, etc. and future meet and we can stop and beauty of the surroundings. Memorials in the shape of a book, cross spend time in peace. Parish Office, St Marys Church Hall, or heart. Morton Carr Lane Vases, unless incorporated into the Nunthorpe, TS7 0JU headstone or sunk into the ground. Tel: 01642 973299

St Mary’s Churchyard is governed by the Churchyard Regulations of [email protected] the Diocese of York. In addition, St Mary’s is governed by Faculty for memorials for Cremated Remains. Version 03 Document updated September 2018