All Saints Churchyard, Epping Upland

Size: 1.2 hectares

Grid reference: TL 44375 04527

Owners: Diocese of Chelmsford

Access: Open public access

Local Wildlife Site: G014

All Saints Church sits on a prominent site

in the small settlement of Epping Upland where it is likely there has been a Church for a least a 1000 years. The current building is thought to date back to the 13^th Century although it has been much altered over the years. For more information on the church itself click here.

The churchyard of All Saints boasts a rich diversity of grasses and wildflowers with many such as quaking grass, lady’s smock, cowslip and lady’s bedstraw indicating old unimproved grassland. This type of grassland is now one of the rarest and most threatened habitats in Essex. It is vital that these grassland and all their associated wildlife are preserved. In recognition of its special flora All Saints is one of thirty nine grassland Local Wildlife Sites designated in 1991 by the Essex Wildlife Trust.

Countrycare first became involved in managing All Saints back in September 1993. Since that time Countrycare staff have worked in partnership with the church wardens and maintained the site annually with volunteers. It is always a very peaceful place to visit, but it perhaps looks at its most spectacular in early spring when it is carpeted with cowslips. 

On a visit it is also worth looking out for the large slate grave of John Jones a drover from Wales who was buried in the churchyard in the mid 19th Century. His grave gives a fasinating insight into our historical past.