St Lawrence Churchyard
A LIVING CHURCHYARD
We want our churchyard to be a 'living churchyard'. This doesn't mean that we just let it grow wild - each area is properly managed to encourage different flowers, butterflies, moths and birds.
Some areas of grass are not mown during the summer months - this has enabled a Pyramidal orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis and various wild flowers to grow for the last few years. 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.
There are over one hundred species of wild flowers living here, not to mention grasses, trees, lichens, mosses, fungi and all the living creatures that depend on them. This diversity of wildlife is possible because of the history of the churchyard - it has not been cultivated nor has it been sprayed with herbicides or fertilisers. The church walls and headstones provide the conditions needed by slow-growing lichens, many of which are only found in churchyards in this part of the country.
It is not a nature reserve - we aim to achieve a balance between conserving wildlife and maintaining the churchyard as a fit setting for the church. If you would like to help us maintain the churchyard, a working party meets regularly each month, usually on the 1st Saturday of the month, from 9.30 am onwards, with a break around 11.00 am for some refreshment. The date of the next working party is usually advertised in the noticeboard alongside the footpath to the north of the church.
If you visit please look around and let us know if you see anything unusual or interesting. We would also welcome any comments, questions or suggestions.
Please click on the appropriate word below to see lists of what has been seen in the churchyard.
PLANT NAMES
BIRDS
BUTTERFLIES
MOTHS
LICHENS
The Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust has produced a pamphlet about churchyards which you can read by clicking here.
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The coming week...
Weekly Leaflet
Monday 17th December
9.30 am Morning Prayer in St Lawrence
10.30 am Tannerswood School 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 Ringing practice in St Lawrence tower
Tuesday 18th December
9.30 am Morning Prayer in St Lawrence
10.15 am Tuesday Coffee in the Breakspear Room, St Lawrence
5.15 pm Evening Prayer in St Lawrence
7.00 pm Youth Club in the church hall
Wednesday 19th December
9.30 am Morning Prayer in St Lawrence
10.15 am Holy Communion in St Lawrence
11.00 am Quiet Reflection in the Corpus Christi Chapel, 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
Thursday 20th December
8.15 am Early Prayer in St Lawrence
9.30 am Morning Prayer in St Lawrence
5.15 pm Evening Prayer in St Lawrence
6.00 pm Carols around the Christmas Tree at Bedmond
Friday 21st December
9.30 am Morning Prayer in St Lawrence
10.00 am Craft Morning in the Tin Church, Bedmond
10.00 am AHAL Coffee in the Henderson Hub, Abbots Langley High Street
2.00 pm Craft & Conversation in the Breakspear Room
5.15 pm Evening Prayer in St Lawrence
6.15 pm Youth Choir in the Breakspear Room
Saturday 22nd December
8.00 pm Christmas Focus in St Lawrence
Sunday 23rd December - the Fourth Sunday of Advent
8.00 am Holy Communion in St Lawrence
9.30 am Parish Communion with Seekers and Creche in St Lawrence
11.15 am Holy Communion in the Tin Church, Bedmond
4.00 pm Nine Lessons & Carols in the Tin Church, Bedmond followed by mulled wine & mincepies
6.30 pm Nine Lessons & Carols in St Lawrence followed by mulled wiine & mincepies
Monday 24th December - Christmas Eve
9.30 am Morning Prayer in St Lawrence
1.30 pm Candlelight Service
2.30 pm Candlelight Service
3.30 pm Candlelight Service
4.30 pm Candlelight Service
6.00 pm Candlelight Service
11.30 pm Midnight Mass at the Tin Church, Bedmond
11.45 pm Midnight Mass at St Lawrence
Tuesday 25th December - Christmas Day
9.30 am Family Communion at St Lawrence
11.15 am Holy Communion at the Tin Church, Bedmond
Wednesday 26th December - Boxing Day (St Stephen)
No services today