Rain stopped play a bit early for today’s small work party. Nonetheless we achieved a reasonable amount:
The remaining thicket of snowberry down the footpath (eastern) side of the churchyard was cleared. It would be nice to remove the roots but at the moment they are stabilising the bank until other hedge plants get established. Next year there will be an ongoing work of cutting the snowberry back so they don’t swamp the new plants.
The last five Hazel saplings I grew from seed a couple of years ago were planted.
Six Hawthorn saplings, self-sown elsewhere in the churchyard, were moved to the footpath bank. Hopefully with the Hazels and other saplings they will make a good thick hedge over time.
While removing the Hawthorns my work was supervised and closely inspected by a local resident.
Another scrape was made beside two graves to sow more Yellow Rattle (so that the grass doesn’t grow so vigorously next Year). This exposed a couple of hazards for us and others to be aware of:
1. An animal, presumable a fox, has made a hole under a grave slab beside the scrape making another trip hazard, so be careful if you are exploring the churchyard.
2. The edging stone around one grave is crumbling with age. I don’t know how many other graves have similarly failing borders, but it is a good reason why cutting the grass and mulch away has to be done very carefully, if at all.
What to look for in the churchyard
I’ve already mentioned a robin. They pair up towards the end of the year, rather than waiting until spring. As you wander around you can already hear them starting to sing.
A dragonfly was still hunting but wouldn’t stay still for a photograph.
Autumn is the best time of the year for fungi. Watch out for Parasol Mushrooms in the churchyard. Apart from the risk of mis-identification, please don’t pick or kick mushrooms and toadstools as they are an essential part of the whole ecology of just about anywhere - churchyards, woodlands, fields, wherever.
Leaves are just beginning to turn colour, not too much in the churchyard just yet, but by the end of the month there should be some lovely reds and yellows appearing.
Jobs coming up
I mentioned last month to be aware of the memorial safety testing and churchyard risk assessment later this month. Please, no more comments on Facebook - all that needs to be said about this has been said.
I’m not around for the next couple of weeks, but if the weather cooperates more Yellow Rattle scrapes will be made and some Cherry Laurel is sprouting well, especially on the Oaklands side, and needs cutting back.
Contacts
Church Office 01252 912761
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