Bedmond Churchyard
The Living Churchyard Scheme aims to help churches manage their churchyards in a wildlife-friendly way, while being sensitive to the needs of all churchyard users.
Churchyards are important places for people, but they can be havens for wildlife too. As these habitats remain largely undisturbed, numerous plants and animals have space to thrive. With good management, wildflower rich churchyards can support a diverse ecosystem.
Many ancient meadows and pastures rich in wildflowers, butterflies and insects have been lost since the Second World War, due to the widespread use of fertilizers and herbicides. Churchyards can be the last refuge for wildlife in some cases and also play an important role in enabling species to move from one place to another.
We have just begun to manage our churchyard at Bedmond in accordance with the principles of the Living Churchyard Scheme and initially undertook a Flora survey which listed over 40 species not to mention the grasses, trees, mosses, fungi and all the living creatures that depend on them. In August 2017 we arranged a Moth Watch and you can see the species we found by clicking here.
As such we already have a rich flora and fauna but are seeking to encourage greater diversity and also maintain a healthy balance. With this in mind, areas of the Churchyard are managed in different ways. The grassed pathways around the Church and the car park are regularly mown for practical reasons and to provide a fit setting for the Church. Around these pathways and the car park though, and more especially in our large field area, we leave the grass to grow long during the summer months to encourage different flowers, butterflies, moths and birds. This also allows caterpillars that feed on the wildflowers and grasses time to pupate. In this way we are trying to conserve and encourage as diverse a range of wildflowers as possible.
Members of our congregation attended a scything course in the summer of 2016 to learn how to manage the grassland in an ancient and more environmentally friendly way. Following this we were awarded a Green Grant from the Diocese towards the purchase of our own scythe for Bedmond and we have just begun to use it.
In 2016 we also began to hold regular monthly Churchyard working parties. So far we have been focusing on coppicing the many Sycamores and Laurels which surround the Church, which had become very overgrown and were taking a lot of light away from the Yew Trees. The coppiced trees are now much easier to manage going forward and the Yew Trees are slowly beginning to recover. From the prunings we created a beautiful natural fence to separate the car park from the wildlife area.
We have also been creating many new habitats such as wildlife wood piles which are beneficial for many species, as well as new habitats for hedgehogs, stag beetles and amphibians.
We are always looking for more people to work in the churchyard. Tasks include all of the regular gardening jobs; mowing, clearing, weeding, pruning etc. There are jobs suitable for all ages and abilities so please make contact to find out when we are next meeting.
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The coming week...
Weekly Leaflet
Monday in Holy Week - 15th April
9.30 am Morning Prayer in St Lawrence
5.15 pm Evening Prayer in St Lawrence
8.00 pm Communion with talk in the Tin Church
Tuesday in Holy Week - 16th April
9.30 am Morning Prayer in St Lawrence
10.15 am Tuesday Coffee in the Breakspear Room, St Lawrence
11.15 am Funeral of Linda Butterfield in St Lawrence followed by cremation
5.15 pm Evening Prayer in St Lawrence
8.00 pm Communion with talk in the Tin Church
Wednesday in Holy Week - 17th April
9.30 am Morning Prayer in St Lawrence
11.15 am Quiet Reflection in the Corpus Christi Chapel, St Lawrence
12.00 noon Communion in the Corpus Christi Chapel, St Lawrence
5.15 pm Evening Prayer in St Lawrence
7.45 pm Choir practice in St Lawrence
8.00 pm Communion with talk in the Tin Church
Maundy Thursday - 18th April
8.15 am Early Prayer in St Lawrence
9.30 am Morning Prayer in St Lawrence
5.15 pm Evening Prayer in St Lawrence
8.00 pm Communion with foot washing followed by Watch through the Night at St Lawrence
Good Friday - 19th April
10.00 am Churches Together Walk of Witness leaves St Paul's, Langleybury
1.00 pm An Hour at the Cross in St Lawrence
2.00 pm Good Friday Liturgy in St Lawarence
2.00 pm A Service of Meditation and Reflection in the Tin Church
Saturday in Holy Week - 20th April
9.30 am Flower arranging in St Lawrence
Easter Day - 21st April
8.00 am Holy Communnion in St Lawrence
9.30 am Parish Communion in St Lawrence followed by Easter Egg Hunt
11.15 am Holy Communion in the Tin Church
6.30 pm Choral Evensong in St Lawrence
Easter Monday - 22nd April
9.30 am Communion in St Lawrence followed by breakfast in the church hall, walk to St Albans for picnic lunch outside the Cathedral, service in the Cathedral at 3.00 pm, then walk home - no supper this year
Tuesday 23rd April
9.30 am Morning Prayer in St Lawrence
10.15 am Tuesday Coffee in St Lawrence
5.15 pm Evening Prayer in St Lawrence
Wednesday 24th April
9.30 am Morning Prayer in St Lawrence
10.30 am Carers Network meets in the Methodist hall
11.15 am Quiet Reflection in St Lawrence
12.00 noon Communion in St Lawrence
5.15 pm Evening Prayer in St Lawrence
7.45 pm Choir practice in St Lawrence