Greenfinches and Colwall Churchyard

The Greenfinch has had its ups and downs over the years, but it still finds a safe and quiet haven in Colwall churchyard.  The tall conifers and shrubs for nesting and perching make the churchyard one of the most reliable places to find Greenfinches in our area.

Greenfinches were birds of parkland and country lanes until the 1960s (as recorded by M. Palmer-Smith in Birds of the Malvern Hills 1968).  Then they developed a taste for peanuts and became bird table regulars.  More recently they have been severely reduced by a parasite-induced disease and seem to have reverted to their original favoured habitats.  

For the human observer, the male Greenfinch’s permanent frown and nasal call give the impression of perpetual comic grumpiness.  On the other hand its yellow wing flashes and trilling canary-like song are positively joyous.  It’s wrong to ascribe these emotions of course but encountering a Greenfinch is always a pleasure.  Once the sight and sound of a greenfinch are known they rarely forgotten.   Greenfinches can be heard and seen at Colwall churchyard from mid-February and throughout the spring and into summer.

The churchyard is deliberately managed to strike a balance between the needs of people and nature. 

Can you help?

A group of enthusiasts meet regularly to maintain and improve the churchyard for people and nature and big improvements have been made over the last couple of years.  It is rewarding work and you would be very welcome to join us.   Work parties start at 9:30 and finish around 12 noon.  The next dates are: Saturday April 6th  and Saturday May 4th.