St. Anthony's Parish Church

In churches as well as on church walls and buildings, various plant and animal species find a suitable place. Church buildings and church gardens offer many opportunities for unexpected nature.

A church is a wonderful complex with many possibilities. For wild animals, an attic resembles a large, hollow tree and cellars resembles a dark cave. In Flanders we often find bat colonies in churches and old attics. House sparrows, owls and swifts use those spaces as nesting places during the breeding period. Bumblebees such as the earth bumblebee use cavity walls as a nesting site. Lichens often occupy a special place in cemeteries. A large number of species grow exclusively on stone. When you look closely, you discover a world of colors and shapes.

By adjusting the planting and replacing stones with greenery, a lot is possible. With a nature-friendly design, opportunities are offered to insects, bees and butterflies, but also for birds and small mammals such as hedgehogs and bats. Special roof tiles or nest boxes provide a lot of nesting or resting space for swallows, sparrows and bats.

Natuuracademie