Cley's St Margaret's church hosts Great British Rake Off

St Margaret’s churchyard in Cley next the Sea was the scene of the ‘Great British Rake Off’, in which newly chopped grass is heaped and cleared away so wildflowers can grow next spring. 

READ MORE: Police in Norfolk launch 'dynamic' new crackdown on boy racers

Participants in the Great British Rake Off at Cley Church (Image: Hanne Siebers)

Shannan Stevenson, who organised the rake-off, said: “This was first and foremost a great community event and I love that sense of community that it brings. 

“We had about 30 people there, not just from Cley but surrounding villages as well. 

Wyatt Earp taking part in the Great British Rake Off at Cley Church (Image: Hanne Siebers)

“We only cut the grass once a year, and then we have to rake it off so it comes back in the spring as the most wonderful wildflower meadow. 

“It’s a large church which has a large churchyard, but many hands make light work and we managed to clear the whole thing off in around four hours.”

READ MORE: Chance to live in Victorian Methodist church as it goes up for auction

Local historian Richard Jefferson, left, and ShannanStevenson taking part in the Rake Off at Cley Church (Image: Hanne Siebers)

Mr Stevenson said pyramidal orchids and oxeye daisies were among the flowers they could expect to see in bloom following the coming winter. 

“We’ve only been taking this approach for a couple of years," he said "We took a leaf out of the book of our neighbouring village of Wiveton, who have been doing it for many years and they gave us some advice about how best to look after the church.”

READ MORE: Second homes make up one in four properties in well-heeled seaside town

Colin Miller taking part in the rake-off at Cley churchyard (Image: Hanne Siebers)

The grass is left to mulch in a corner of the churchyard to be later used for compost.

Mr Stevenson is head of the church’s ‘Regenerate’ project, which is looking at repairing the floor underneath the wooden pews and planning the building’s lighting and sound needs for the future. 

The Grade I listed church dates from the 14th Century and it is the largest in the area. 

Volunteers taking part in the rake-off at Cley churchyard (Image: Hanne Siebers)

Susi Killin taking part in the event (Image: Hanne Siebers)

Painter Hannah Stevenson and sculptor Colin Miller at the rake off (Image: Hanne Siebers)