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Television presenter Iolo Williams has teamed up with volunteers in Caerphilly to boost biodiversity at a churchyard.

Iolo, along with the Caerphilly Woodlands Trust, have set up the ‘Faith in Nature’ project at Lower Machen church.

The project aims to protect and enhance nature and wildlife at the churchyard, and promote community wellbeing.

With more than 38,000 churches in the UK, the group believes there is potential to use their churchyards to help address a biodiversity crisis.

Iolo praised the “fantastic project” and said: “So many churchyards are mown so that only grass survives, yet burial grounds, like Lower Machen’s, are havens for wildlife.

“Our churchyards have so many rare or at-risk species that are so often overlooked through unsympathetic management. Through over mowing we have lost opportunities to encourage wildlife to flourish.”

He continued: “This project makes sure that this can’t happen and has captured the imagination and enthusiasm of young people, through working with the schools, in developing their understanding of the importance of protecting unique places such as these.”

The Friends of Lower Machen Church group has worked with local schools as part of the project, with pupils building ‘bug hotels’ to take home, as well as learning about the wildflowers, birds, and creatures found at the churchyard.

The pupils also learned about migrating swallows, with Iolo explaining to them how they travel from Africa to the church every year.

An eco open day will be held at the church on June 8, with a range of family activities such as bug hotel making, wildlife spotting and more.

Church warden Wayne Barnett said “It’s thanks to all the Caerphilly Woodland Trust and church volunteers,  particularly the bellringers, and their hard work that has made this project possible.”