In 2023, it was named ‘Churchyard of the Year’ in the London in Bloom competition. 

It is divided into several sections, including a large woodland area along Vinegar Alley between the Monoux Almshouses and Holy Family Catholic School. In addition to being an ancient graveyard and a place where people still remember loved ones, it is a working garden site, home to biodiversity projects, and a haven for bees, insects, birds, bats and animals.

Working alongside our head gardener Tim Hewitt, dozens of local volunteers have helped Tim make St Mary’s Churchyard a place where Walthamstow gathers to learn about horticulture and wildlife, to plant trees and flowers, and to spend time admiring and engaging with the diverse range of plants and natural features that make the churchyard such a peaceful place to be.  

St Mary’s offers weekly supervised volunteering in the churchyard at these times:

• Tuesdays: 1pm to 4pm
• Wednesdays: 1pm to 4pm
• Thursdays: 1pm to 4pm
• Fridays: 1pm to 4pm
  
  

If you would like to volunteer, just turn up at one of these times, preferably with gardening gloves if you have them. Tools and expert instruction will be provided!

If you would like to ‘adopt’ a grave that is currently not being looked after as part of our ‘Burials in Bloom’ project, email Tim Hewitt at . 

And if you would like to financially contribute to protecting and enhancing St Mary’s Churchyard, you can donate here, indicating in the notes section that your donation is for the churchyard.