St Ishmael's church occupies a stunning position looking over the Tywi estuary near Ferryside and is surrounded by a good sized churchyard, often bathed in sunlight – a great location for a nature reserve.  Father Richard, the congregation and the Parochial Church Council agreed to manage the churchyard for nature conservation, with the help of the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales. The work began in 2006 with volunteers from the church and local community. A new management plan was drawn up for the grassland to meet the needs of the church and to create a haven for wildlife.

Well used areas are still kept neat and tidy, but away from footfall, meadow management techniques (of later cutting and removing arisings [cuttings]) are now allowing wild flowers to flourish, and butterflies and birds are benefitting as well. Eighty plant species have been recorded this year, and this summer a marbled white was seen in the wildflower area. There is plenty of work that can still be done, but good progress is already being seen transforming this haven into a ‘Living Churchyard’.