St Mary's, Aldborough

The attractive churchyard of St Mary’s, Aldborough boasts several marked conservation areas where visitors can spot a number of notable wildflower species throughout the spring and summer.
 
Over a hundred years ago, the Reverend John Gudgeon Nelson (commemorated in the East Window) planted the churchyard with narcissi, bluebells and dog-tooth violets which now form swathes of colour in the spring. From mid-spring to early summer, numerous patches of early purple orchids can be seen in flower, as well as pignut, a species deemed dependent on the traditional methods of churchyard management for its survival in Norfolk. Later in the summer, stunning displays of oxeye daisy are also on show, along with the pinky-purple haze of the pollinator favourite, common knapweed.
 
The diversity of meadow plants present in turn supports an array of invertebrate life, particularly butterflies, bees and grasshoppers. Speckled wood, ringlet, peacock and gatekeeper butterflies have all been recorded in the churchyard, as have numerous bird species including whitethroat and goldfinch.
 
The church itself is early medieval, the tower of which fell in the 18^th century. The inside is worth exploring, with a selection on 15^th century family brasses, along with a range of stained glass, dating from the late 19th- early 20^th century. A display within the church celebrating its treasured wildlife, highlighting the involvement in the NWT Churchyard Conservation Scheme, and a number of resources is currently underway.

Best time to visit
In order to see the greatest diversity of wildflowers, the best time to visit the churchyard is Spring-Summer. For the early purple orchids and pignut, the best months are May-June and to see the oxeye daisy and knapweed, visit around June- September. The summer months are also the best time of you to spot the diversity of butterflies and other invertebrates that visit the churchyard.