A CHURCH group in Penarth has been awarded an £8000 lottery grant to transform its deteriorating grounds.

The Friends of St Augustine’s have been awarded the start up grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for its Heritage and Habitat Project.

The grant will enable volunteer members of the habitat and heritage group to progress their project which will transform the large and rapidly deteriorating churchyard into a centre where people can come to learn, look and relax.

The project has three main aims including to protect and enhance the natural environment, to conserve and restore some of the graves whilst taking full account of the prime purpose of the area as a burial ground and to promote the churchyard as an important outdoor educational and recreational area for local residents, schools, visitors and the wider community.

The church is celebrating the 150th anniversary of the current building and has hosted a number of events to mark the milestone.

Chairman of the habitat and heritage group, Andrew Davison, said: "This is a fantastic boost and the grant will enable us to get on with the preparatory survey work which is essential before we involve the local community more fully.

"We are very aware that this site is of great historical and environmental importance and we have a responsibility to record its history and make better use of the site as a place of environmental interest.

"It is a huge project, but this news has enabled us to make a start with confidence."

An ecological survey carried out last year revealed that the area is home to many plant species, birds, insects and some rare lichen.

The famous Welsh composer, Joseph Parry and members of the Brain family, known for their brewing, are buried in the churchyard.

Richard Bellamy, head of HLF in Wales, said: "The Habitat and Heritage Community Project is a fine example of HLF’s start-up programme that, thanks to National Lottery players, makes it possible to support local people to manage and sustain heritage for future generations, and to engage the community in its preservation."