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 14th October
2.15 pm Tiny Tots in the Breakspear Room
7.30 pm Ringing practice in St Lawrence
Tuesday 15th October
10.15 am Tuesday Coffee in the Breakspear Room
7.30 pm Youth Club meets in the Church hall
8.00 pm Mother Union meets in Breakspear Room
Wednesday 16th October
10.30 am Home Communion at Abbeyfield
11.15 am Quiet Reflection in St Lawrence
12.00 noon Holy Communion in St Lawrence followed by light lunch in the Breakspear Room
7.45 pm Choir practice in St Lawrence
Thursday 17th October
7.30 pm History of Leavesden Hospital at Tin Church
Friday 18th October
10.00 am Craft morning in the Tin Church
10.00 am AHAL Coffee in the Henderson Hub, Abbots Langley High St
2.00 pm Ascension Acorns in the Tin Church
2.00 pm Craft & Conversation in the Breakspear Room
6.15 pm Youth Choir practice in Breakspear Room
Saturday 20th October
3.00 pm Baptisim of Paul Spears
6.30 pm Friends of St Lawrence Quiz Night with Hot Supper
Sunday 21st October
8.00 am Holy Communion
9.30 am Parish Communion with Seekers and Creche
11.15 am Holy Communion at Bedmond in Tin Church
12.30 pm Sunday Lunch Club
12.45 pm Christening of Elodie Cudjoe
6.30 pm Evening Prayer