We are very proud to announce that St. Mary Magdalene Church, Longfield has achieved an Eco Church Bronze Award!
You can find out more information here – Eco Church – An A Rocha UK Project
Environmental Policy Summary
We recognise that we have an impact on the world through the choices available to us and our use of money and resources.
We will strive to support our church family and wider community in bringing about positive change and care for God’s earth.
We will seek to encourage our church community, and beyond, to live gently on the earth and be prepared to challenge systemic injustice.
WHY HAS THE CHURCHYARD GRASS NOT BEEN CUT YET?
Because we have found Small Blue Butterflies in Church Downs Churchyard
Cutting of the wildflowers and strimming round headstones in Church Downs Churchyard and elsewhere has been delayed until 30th September.
This is due to the presence of the rare Small Blue Butterfly. Our smallest resident butterfly is easily overlooked, partly because of its size and dusky colouring, but partly because it is often confined to small patches of sheltered grassland where its sole food plant, Kidney Vetch, is found. It has a unique life-cycle.
The Small Blue is single brooded with adults usually flying from mid-May to late June, with a smaller second brood in late July and August. Eggs are laid singly, tucked into young, partially open flower heads of Kidney Vetch. There is large area of Kidney Vetch in Church Downs.
Larvae feed on the developing flowers, burrowing into the flower.
From mid-July the larvae can be seen on the flower heads, where they bite holes in the base of the flowers to eat the seeds.
When fully grown in September they descend to the ground and pass the winter in soil crevices or under moss. They pupate the following spring also at ground level. Therefore it is important that we do not cut the Kidney Vetch until end of September.
For more information please see website: www.butterfly-conservation.org Small Blue
Firebugs have been found in the Longfield Church main churchyard on grave head stones near the Lime trees –
This is what we have found out about them:
From : Pyrrhocoris apterus – Wikipedia
The firebug, Pyrrhocoris apterus, is a common insect of the family Pyrrhocoridae.
Easily recognisable due to its striking red and black colouration.
Pyrrhocoris apterus is distributed throughout the Palaearctic from the Atlantic coast of Europe to northwest China. Beyond its native Palaearctic range, it has been recorded in the United States, Central America, India, and Australia. It has been reported as recently expanding its distribution northwards into mainland United Kingdom and eastward on to the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. They are frequently observed to form aggregations, especially as immature forms, containing from tens to perhaps a hundred individuals.
Reproduction
Firebugs generally mate in April and May. Their diet consists primarily of seeds from lime trees and mallows (Lavertera). They can often be found in groups near the base of lime tree trunks, on the sunny side. They can be seen in tandem formation when mating.
Churchyards Wildflower Survey – 16th June 2026
Kidney Vetch
Pyramidal Orchid
Oxeye Daisy
Field Forget-me-not
Wood Forget-me-not
Lady’s bedstraw
Hedge bedstraw
Black Medick
Birds-foot-trefoil
Salad Burnet
Wild Carrot
Wild Marjoram
Wild Basil
Meadow Buttercup
Creeping Buttercup
Common Scabious
Yarrow
Ribwort Plantain
White Clover
Hedge Bindweed
Field Bindweed
Wood Avens (Herb Bennet)
Sweet Violet
Wild Strawberry
Cowslip
Dandelion *
Yorkshire Fog Grass *
Primrose *
Agrimony *
Cocksfoot *
Hop Trefoil *
Common Centaury *
16th June 2026 by Jenny Gibb
Knapweed
Greater Knapweed
Mignonette
Wild Clematis (Old Man’s Beard)
Nipplewort
Everlasting Sweet Pea
Broomrape
Common Ragwort
Cow Parsley
Black Horehound
Common Vetch
Stinging Nettle
White Bryony
Yellow Rattle
Dove’s-foot Crane’s-bill Geranium
Creeping Cinquefoil
White Dead-nettle
White Stonecrop (sedum)
Reflexed Stonecrop *
Smooth Sowthistle
Germander Speedwell
Goats Beard
Hawk Bit
Beaked Hawksbeard
Jack in the Hedge *
Timothy Grass *
Quaking Grass *
Common Poppy *
Bladder Campion *
Common Mallow *
Creeping Thistle *
Pink Sorrell *
* denotes new plants since 2024