AN ECO-FRIENDLY Wyke Regis church has been recognised for its award-winning churchyard.

All Saints Church was granted a silver certificate from the Living Churchyard Trust for enhancing the ecology of its grounds.

Starting in 1996, the Living Churchyard Trust is a national project encouraging local communities to manage their churchyards for the benefit of the environment and the congregation.

More than 60 churches across Dorset participate in the project under the management of the Dorset Wildlife Trust.

Over the past four years, a team of gardeners and grass cutters from All Saints have worked hard to provide friendly eco-systems for birds, reptiles, and bats, as well as planting a herb garden and wildflower area.

Project coordinator Daphne Pont said: "The work the church is doing to enhance the ecology of our churchyards is very important. A few years ago someone asked me to do a bit of weeding for the Living Churchyard Trust and it's grown from there.

"There are about eight people in total who have worked on the project but we all do what we can when we can, and we try to get the children involved where possible."

Over the year, All Saints Church has built several insect hotels, including a bumble bee nest and an invertebrates woodpile, and created a woodland glade to allow bluebells to grow and make room for picnics.

Daphne said: "On September 24 three members of our team were invited to a ceremony at the Dorset Wildlife Trust where we were given the award by the Archdeacon of Dorset, the Venerable Antony MacRow-Wood. I also gave a little talk in front of everyone about the work we have done."

As well as receiving the sliver certificate from the Living Church Yard Trust, All Saints was awarded an annual cash prize of £25 from the Bishop.

This week the team celebrated by planting a sapling from the 1000-year-old Eastling Yew in Kent in commemoration of the Queen's 90th birthday.