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 hold a monthly Churchyard working party on the third Saturday of each month from 10am – 12 noon followed by refreshments in the Church. Tasks include all of the regular gardening jobs; mowing, clearing, weeding, pruning etc. There are jobs suitable for all so please join us.
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The coming week...
Monday 18th September
9.30 am Morning Prayer in St Lawrence
2.15 pm Tiny Tots in the Breakspear Room, St Lawrence
5.15 pm Evening Prayer in St Lawrence
7.30 pm Ringers' practice in St Lawrence tower
Tuesday 19th September
9.30 am Morning Prayer in St Lawrence
10.15 am Tuesday Coffee in the Breakspear Room, St Lawrence
12.30 pm Open Bible Session in the Breakspear Room, St Lawrence
5.15 pm Evening Prayer in St Lawrence
8.00 pm Mothers' Union in the Breakspear Room, St Lawrence
Wednesday 20th September
9.30 am Morning Prayer in St Lawrence
10.15 am Holy Communion in St Lawrence
11.00 am Quiet Hour in St Lawrence
12.00 noon Home Communion at Abbeyfield
5.15 pm Evening Prayer in St Lawrence
7.45 pm Choir practice in St Lawrence
8.00 pm Social Committee meets at 7 Fernhills
Thursday 21st September
8.15 am Early Prayer for the Parish and Community in St Lawrence
9.30 am Morning Prayer in St Lawrence
5.15 pm Evening Prayer in St Lawrence
Friday 22nd September
9.30 am Morning Prayer in St Lawrence
10.00 am Craft Session in Bedmond Church
2.00 pm Craft & Conversation in the Breakspear Room, St Lawrence
2.15 pm Funeral of Andrew Dixon in St Lawrence followed by cremation
5.15 pm Evening Prayer in St Lawrence
No Youth Choir practice this evening
8.00 pm Wedding rehearsal in St Lawrence
Saturday 23rd September
2.00 pm Wedding of Jamie Impey and Terri-Louise Carlisle
Sunday 24th September - Trinity 15
8.00 am Holy Communion in St Lawrence
9.30 am Parish Communion with Seekers and Creche in St Lawrence
6.30 pm Evening Prayer in St Lawrence
7.30 pm Pilgrim Course in the Breakspear Room, St Lawrence
Monday 25th September
9.30 am Morning Prayer in St Lawrence
2.15 pm Tiny Tots in the Breakspear Room, St Lawrence
5.15 pm Evening Prayer in St Lawrence
7.30 pm Ringers practice in St Lawrence tower
Tuesday 26th September
9.30 am Morning Prayer in St Lawrence
10.15 am Tuesday Coffee in the Breakspear Room
12.30 pm Funeral of Rosemary Robinson in St Lawrence followed by cremation
5.15 pm Evening Prayer in St Lawrence
Wednesday 27th September
9.30 am Morning Prayer in St Lawrence
10.15 am Holy Communion in St Lawrence
11.00 am Quiet Hour in St Lawrence
5.15 pm Evening Prayer in St Lawrence
7.45 pm Choir practice in St Lawrence
8.00 pm Seekers leaders meeting in the Breakspear Room, St Lawrence
8.00 pm Bereavement Visitors meeting in the Methodist small hall