By Tim Hewitt, St Mary’s Head Gardener/ Community Gardener
What to look for in the churchyard this week?
Leaves. Lots of leaves. Even though I slightly resent the start of leaf-collecting season, I know that corralling them is a job worth doing. First, it stops some plants, grass and paths being swamped by a soggy blanket that causes rot and slipperiness. Second it produces an abundance of material for next year’s leaf mould. We have only just emptied last year’s bay and found it a useful addition to potting mixes, a great mulch and addition to new beds. Why not try this at home, kids?
We are also desperately trying to create the right setting for our bulb planting. This involves creating two new areas to be dug over by us and lovely volunteers. I tried getting the foxes to help, but they were not really up for it. No doubt when the bulbs have been planted they will join in!
The last of the succulent and tender plants are being put away this week. Porches, cold frames and greenhouses should be filling up at this time of year.
“It’s never too late to be what you might have been.” –George Eliot
Workshops at St Mary’s
I am planning a series of two-hour paid workshops, bookable on Eventbrite, costing £35. There will be 10 spaces for each workshop. While many of our offerings will be free over the next several years as part of our National Lottery-funded ‘Creative Church’ regeneration project and activities, these will not be part of my Lottery-funded sessions, but might be of interest to the congregation and local community. They will all take place in the churchyards and the St Mary’s Welcome Centre.
Paid workshops confirmed so far:
St Mary’s offers weekly supervised volunteering in the churchyard at these times:
Thursdays: 1pm to 4pm
Fridays: 1pm to 4pm
There’s no need to book; just turn up, preferably with your own gloves. Tools and expert instruction will be provided!
Dozens of local people have adopted a grave to plant around and care for; if you would like to adopt a grave that’s currently not visited or looked after, contact me at
tim@stmaryswalthamstow.org.
