By Tim Hewitt, St Mary’s Head Gardener/ Community Gardener
We have completed our major tree planting now, with the addition of a second Walnut in the older churchyard. It will not be until the end of April until we can be sure of success, but we are hopeful.
On sunny days the Crocus in the new meadow and elsewhere will open and allow early emerging bees to collect pollen. A tidal wave of yellow Narcissus is breaking all over the main churchyard.
The Spring Bed, along Vinegar Alley, will grow increasingly interesting and colourful this week. Grass will start to grow and may have a first cut if the ground dries out enough.
It is a good time of year to turn and attend to compost heaps. They can be emptied to provide a good mulch or potting compost, then turned to allow more air in. Any imbalance between green and brown material can be corrected too.
I will be running a composting course here on Saturday 12 March, so if you want to learn more, sign up!
Quote of the Week
“There is all the difference in the world between a rubbish heap and a compost heap.” –The Complete Book of the Garden (1966)
Volunteer Times
St Mary’s offers weekly supervised volunteering in the churchyard at these times:
Tuesdays: 1pm to 3.30pm
Wednesdays: 1pm to 4pm
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!
Burials in Bloom 2022
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.
