Weekly Churchyard Update (21/9)

By Tim Hewitt, St Mary’s Head Gardener/ Community Gardener

Little bits will be added to the new sand bed, but a lot of the planting is complete. Expect it to look rather underwhelming for Autumn and Winter, then get going in Spring. Bulbs, seed and a few more plants are still to come. The South Bed will continue to be taken down this week, even as some parts are in their glory. Tree care, grass management and cutting back are all ongoing. It is a good time to sow hardy perennials and annuals, to make strong seedlings before it gets cold.

This is the season of Anemone, Symphotrichum, Ceratostigma plumbaginoides, Morning Glory, Nasturtium, Mina lobata and Cyclamen.

Quote of the Week 

“Garden with your footprint in mind. Thirty million UK gardeners can make a huge difference.”
-Alistair Griffiths, RHS Director of Science

Upcoming 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:

Volunteer Times

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

Tuesdays: 1pm to 3.30pm
Wednesdays: 9am to 12pm
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 2021-22 

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.