Picture the scene: it’s a cold, frosty winter’s morning in a churchyard in south Farnham. The air is crisp, and the graves and grass have a white, glistening edge.

It’s tranquil, but not silent, for there are people looking closely at the undergrowth and vegetation for creatures that most gardeners despise.

One of the most unusual stories the Herald has covered in recent months has been a slug study in St Peter’s churchyard in Wrecclesham.

It genuinely happened, as our reporter Marcus McQuilton gave up his toasty bed to join Myung-hye Chun and her green-minded chums in a snail, slug and moss hunt on a snowy day in November.

It doesn’t sound like everyone’s idea of fun, but it’s all in a morning’s work for the Wrecclesham Conversation Group. It’s not been a one-off either, with other “highlights” over the last year including a bat walk, bioblitz and a recent twig identification session.

The WCG was formed with a view to making the churchyard a wildlife haven, while boosting biodiversity around the village.

Their handiwork in Wrecclesham over the 12 months hasn’t gone unnoticed. Paths have been cleared and tidied up, litter has been collected, overgrown trees and weeds have been cut back and removed, and there’s been planting throughout.

Birds are well catered for thanks to multiple feeders, with surveys being carried out as a result.

But there’s so much more to come, and it’s not just the churchyard which is getting a green makeover.

The WCG was officially launched last January by Myung-hye with support from St Peter’s vicar, Jacqueline Drake-Smith, much-loved Wrecclesham pensioner and wildlife aficionado Martin Angel, and the Bourne Conservation Group (BCG).

“I was volunteering for the BCG but I always wanted to do something for Wrecclesham because I live near the churchyard and go to St Peter’s church,” said Myung-hye.

“It was a site that BGC looked after. It looked completely abandoned but it’s been restored over ten years through their work and now us.

“I’ve always been interested in conserving churchyards because they’re a great haven for wildlife. Our vicar, Jacqueline, is also a great wildlife lover so this vision of doing something for Wrecclesham over the long term came together.

“I later spoke to Martin, who is a local expert and loves wildlife, about my vision and he liked the idea of setting up a Wrecclesham Conservation Group.

“He’s been enthusiastic and supportive and he’s one of the big reasons we’ve started it. He’s also 87, but his love and passion for it is so strong.”

The early conversations took place in June 2023 and with the support of the BCG and the local vicar onboard, the first session took place at School Hill Churchyard on January 24, 2024.

There’s always an element of uncertainty when starting a new group or venture. Although there was plenty of enthusiasm at the first session last January, seeds of doubt were planted about the WCG’s longevity.

“There was a period of indefinite waiting,” admitted Myung-hye in reflecting on the group’s early days.

“It was not knowing the future and whether anyone would join the WGC and whether it would survive our first year.”

Those doubts have long been dispelled and thoughts are already turning to the spring and summer as the group’s second AGM took place at Leverton Hall on February 2.

Martin’s help has been invaluable and he’s firmly part of the family tree, being the group’s chairman.

“He’s played a great role in shaping our wildlife conservation vision and has also taught us how to record and put together a wildlife inventory, which we are also creating,” added Myung-hye.

“He’s also introduced moth trapping, and we’ve identified 216 species of moths in the 12 sessions we’ve run. He has identified and recorded more than 975 species of moths in Farnham, alone, which I think is incredible.”

Sessions take place on the first Saturday of the month but these are not always one-off affairs and more are often held, such is the passion for the job.

The group is “always busy” while engagement with children and youngsters is a key part of their mission to make the Wrecclesham public more aware and appreciative of the wildlife on their doorstep.

They’re keen to work with young children and youngsters and have conducted “lovely” sessions with Wrecclesham Rainbows and Frensham Brownies and Rainbows in recent months. Plus they also welcome inquiries from youth groups, local schools and Duke of Edinburgh participants. Like the song says, children are the future.

“The BCG are really good for helping Duke of Edinburgh students but Martin and I particularly like children to take part in our sessions, so we often invite them,” added Myung-hye.

“We did a Bioblitz in August that was really ambitious but very successful. We put on a series of events but what I really, really liked about the bioblitz was all the young people that took part.

“One of the reasons I do Facebook really actively is that I really want to publicise what we’re doing and let people know about the nature on their doorstep. Children are an important part of that and if they take part in a session, they realise what’s around them.”

Their vision goes well beyond the churchyard and there are plans to turn the School Hill verge by The Bengal Lounge into a wildlife haven, possibly with wildflowers and teeming with pollinators, insect and botanical life.

A dozen volunteers braved the cold to join the February work party with tasks including crown lifting and removing dead trees. The work will bring more light to the churchyard come springtime and summer and there’s already a hint of change in the air, with the first crocus and snowdrops appearing on the footpath.

Sure enough, work will extend beyond the churchyard over the coming months with volunteers keen to improve and maintain key footpaths around the village.

As mentioned earlier, their work hasn’t gone unnoticed around Wrecclesham as their Christmas presents included a £100 donation from the Southern Co-op from the retailer’s Neighbourly Green Fund.

But while the handout was nice, even better was welcoming two families to their latest session. It was “a joy” to watch a child and teenager enjoy and appreciate the nature and wildlife on their doorstep.

There’s no need to book to take part in one of their sessions, simply turn up, while would-be volunteers can find a wealth of information about their work and tasks by looking for Wrecclesham Conservation Group on Facebook.

It's a very active site, but engagement is a big part of what they do. Because if you love where you life, then you’ll do your best to look after it.

Myung-hye said: “We want to create a community spirit, but we also want to create green spaces for the community.

“It’s also about getting people to work together.

“We want to bring young people, and especially children, and nurture them and get them more interested in the biodiversity and wildlife on their doorstep.

“We believe everyone should be able to visit a green space within five minutes of their doorstep.

“Once you pay attention to what’s around you and delve closer you realise what’s there.”