Exploring Nature in Historic Graveyards
Over the past few months, we’ve welcomed Niall—a talented Master’s student from Queen’s University—who’s been surveying the biodiversity of our cemetery sites. Here Niall shares some of his findings at Movilla Cemetery in Newtownards.
Hello everyone!
My name is Niall, and I am a student of Ecological Management and Conservation Biology. As part of my course, I am working on a project on the ecology of cemeteries. This is the first of a series where I will be talking about the different species found in cemeteries. This event will be in partnership with Ards and North Down Borough Council, Newry Mourne and Down Borough Council and Strangford Lough and Lecale Partnership as part of Love Parks Week.
The first type of species I will be talking about is indicator species. Indicator species are species whose presence can be used to determine the state of an environment. Here are some of the indicator species that can be found in Movilla Cemetery.
Holly (Ilex aquifolium) is more than just a Christmas decoration, and usually cohabits a site with oak (Quercus spp.), often being a sign of ancient woodland. Holly is requires several metallic nutrients, so holly growing to a large size is a sign of nutritious soil!
Alder (Alnus glutinosa) is another common tree found in Movilla Cemetery, and is a sign of wet soils, and are an important food source for many species of caterpillar. Alder roots have large nodules which contain bacteria that add nitrogen to the soil, so soil near alders is fertile soil!
Taking a break from larger plants, a less conspicuous plant is the Common Cat’s-Ear (Hypochaeris radicata). Don’t be fooled by its looks, Cat’s-Ear is more closely related to the daisy than to dandelions. Contrary to what our previous two plants would have you believe, this a grassland plant that prefers dry soils.
Another easily missed plant in Movilla is Yarrow (Achillea millefolium). It usually grows to about a metre in height with prominent flowers, but it is still distinctive when kept short due to the unique shape of its leaves. Yarrow is an important plant for several animals, with many caterpillars and beetles requiring it as food and many important bird species using it to build their nests.
And for the last species we’ll be discussing today, we have the humble Buttercup (Ranunculus spp.). There are two species of buttercup present in Movilla, Creeping Buttercup (R. repens) and Bulbous Buttercup (R. bulbosus), the former of which is pictured. Creeping Buttercup is more often found in forests, while Bulbous Buttercup is more common in grasslands. Like Common-Cat’s Ear, it requires well-drained soil.
These are only a snapshot of the dozens of species that can be used as indicators. No species exists in a vacuum, so they can all be used to indicate something about their environment.
Hello everyone!
Today I will be talking about Invasive Species. Invasive Species are species that are found outside their native range and that are causing ecological harm to their surroundings. Here are some of the invasive species found in Movilla Cemetery:
Butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii) was originally native to China but has been spread worldwide as a garden plant. It is known for its ability to attract butterflies, who love its nectar. This is problematic, as butterflies drinking from it cause it to become pollinated, which spreads its seeds. They will then grow to great heights very rapidly, which will then smother and kill other plants. This includes the food plants necessary for the caterpillars of the butterflies who feed upon it, so while in the short term in may attract butterflies, in the long term it reduces the butterfly population.
Himalayan Honeysuckle (Leycesteria formosa) was, as the name implies, originally found in the Himalayas. Himalayan Honeysuckle was brought to the UK as an ornamental plant and to allow gamebirds to hide, but has since spread to Ireland and France. It was chosen to provide cover for gamebirds due to it forming dense thickets, which will smother and kill other plants.
Thankfully, these are the only invasive species in Movilla Cemetery, so instead I will mention other invasive plants common to local cemeteries.
Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) was originally native to regions bordering the Black Sea, but in Ireland is commonly used to make hedges. Cherry Laurel grows rapidly and crowds out other plants, and once it has grown it is difficult to kill. It has spread rapidly due to birds spreading its seeds, which are lethally toxic to humans.
Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster spp.) is a group of species originally found in East Asia but has been spread worldwide. Its nectar is beloved by bees and its seeds are commonly eaten by birds, so it spreads rapidly, particularly into vulnerable habitats, where it can quickly become the dominant species, smothering all others.
Snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus) was originally found in North America and was brought to Europe to act as cover and food for gamebirds. It forms dense thickets, which crowd out all other plants, and difficult to remove once established due to their dense root networks.
Unfortunately, this is only a snapshot of the dozens of species recognised as invaders in Northern Ireland.
Hello everyone!
Today I will be talking about Priority Species. The NI Priority Species List was created by DAERA in 2006, and then updated in 2023. Priority Species are those that are of particular conservation concern. Here are some of the Priority Species found in Movilla Cemetery:
The House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) may seem common, but this is only due to its close association with humans, with their population falling by 75% since the 1970s. This decline is caused by a reduction in their prey insects: this means that the decline in House Sparrow numbers is only a symptom of a larger problem. Our modern building practices have also given them less space to nest.
Common Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) are another species that may seem common, but they are now typically found in small flocks, where in the past they gathered in flocks tens or hundreds of thousands strong, called murmurations. No one is quite sure why they do this, but it is thought to be a method of predator avoidance. Starlings’ preferred foods are insects and grains, so naturally modern farming practices have reduced their food supplies.
The Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos) is another songbird species that is in decline. The decline of Song Thrushes is thought to be due to changes in agricultural practices, particularly the removal of hedgerows, as they require their nests to be shady and hidden from predators. A large portion of their diet is snails, so any change in snail populations will have an effect on the Song Thrushes.
Linnets (Carduelis cannabina) are another songbird that has fallen victim to changes in agricultural practices, with declines of 56% during the late 20th Century; they have since stabilised, but have made no recovery. Linnets eat wildflower seeds, and a mixture of monoculture crops, overgrazing and herbicide use has reduced the number of available wildflowers for Linnets to feed upon.
Juniper (Juniperus communis) is one of our few native conifers. Juniper has always been localised and scarce, and is declining: it has not been in 50% of the sites where it was previously common in the 1980s. This decline has thought to be due to overgrazing and fires.
