By Tim Hewitt, St Mary’s Head Gardener/ Community Gardener
As the scaffolding and building work gets into high gear, we have been busy finding other places for the plants we have. It is exciting, if a bit tiring, making new beds.
The mild weather is ideal for moving plants around, but could turn at any time. The latest is in the Old Churchyard, along the far railing. You will recognise the plants, but it is good to see them in a new context.
There is more relocating to be done, which we will get on with this week. GoodGym are helping us on Wednesday. Look out for ever more inventive planting spaces! Expect to see more Crocus, Snowdrop, Iris and Cyclamen coum this week.
Quotation of the Week
“I have only done one sensible thing in my life – to cultivate the ground. He who tills a field, renders a better service to mankind than all the scribblers in Europe.” -Voltaire
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.
Upcoming workshops:
How to Make a Meadow (However Small Your Patch): Saturday 12 February 2022, 10:30am – 12:30pm
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.
