Churchyard work for sheep and goats

Over many years the large churchyard at St Wilfrid's had become overgrown.

David Badger, who is a member of St Wilfrid's, said: "With great help from volunteers and a small national lottery grant we were able to bring it back into shape, but we also realised that the crucial thing was maintenance, if it wasn't going to revert back to its unkempt state.

"The solution came from a kind and sympathetic farmer in Guiseley, Andrew Emsley. For an experimental period he lent us some sheep and goats and it worked so well he now brings the sheep and goats each spring for six months and they eat the grass and nibble the new growth off the saplings which means that eventually they just die back."

The church has even invested in four of its own goats who are looked after by the church warden.

Mr Badger said: "We're next door to Calverley C of E School and the children, who walk through the churchyard to get to school, absolutely love seeing the animals. The churchyard really looks cared for now and I think the interest it has generated has raised the profile locally and helped bring some people that bit closer to the church."