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.
Choose products with this Mark
www.fairtrade.org.uk
The coming week...
Monday 18th June
9.30 am Morning Prayer in St Lawrence
2.15 pm Tiny Tots in the Breakspear Room
5.15 pm Evening Prayer in St Lawrence
7.30 pm Ringers' practice in St Lawrence tower
Tuesday 19th June
9.30 am Morning Prayer in St Lawrence
10.15 am Tuesday Coffee in the Breakspear Room
1.00 pm Pilgrim Course in the Breakspear Room (including lunch)
5.15 pm Evening Prayer in St Lawrence
7.30 pm Talk and demonstration on 'Holy Icons' in the Tin Church
8.00 pm Communications Team meeting at 7 Fernhills
Wednesday 20th June
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
12.00 noon Home Communion at Abbeyfield
5.15 pm Evening Prayer in St Lawrence
8.00 pm Property Committee in the Breakspear Room
Thursday 21st June
8.15 am Early Prayer in St Lawrence Church
9.30 am Morning Prayer in St Lawrence Church
12.00 noon Deanery Clergy Chapter meets in the Breakspear Room
5.15 pm Evening Prayer in St Lawrence
8.00 pm House Group at 6 Kindersley Way
Friday 22nd June - St Alban
9.30 am Morning Prayer in St Lawrence
10.00 am Craft Group in the Tin Church
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 meets in St Lawrence
Saturday 23rd June
12.00 noon Friends of St Lawrence WW1-themed Tea Party in Abbot's House Garden
3.00 pm Wedding of Matthews Wyard and Daniella Yule
Sunday 24th June - The Fourth Sunday after Trinity
8.00 am Holy Communion in St Lawrence
9.30 am Parish Communion with Seekers and Creche in St Lawrence
11.30 am Christening for Harley Gregory in St Lawrence
12.30 pm Christening for Rex McDonald in St Lawrence
6.30 pm Taize Service in St Lawrence
7.30 pm Pilgrim Course in the Brakspear Room
Monday 25th June
9.30 am Morning Prayer in St Lawrence
2.15 pm Tiny Tots in the Breakspear Room
5.15 pm Evening Prayer in St Lawrence
7.30 pm Ringing practice in St Lawrence tower
Tuesday 26th June
9.30 am Morning Prayer in St Lawrence
10.15 am Tuesday Coffee in the Breakspear Room
12.30 pm Pilgrim Course in the Breakspear Room (with lunch)
5.15 pm Evening Prayer in St Lawrence
7.00 pm Youth Club meets in the church hall
8.00 pm Seekers leaders and helpers meet in the Breakspear Room
Wednesday 27th June
9.30 am Morning Prayer in St Lawrence
10.15 am Holy Communion in St Lawrence
10.30 am Carers' Network meets in the Methodist hall
11.00 am Quiet Reflection in the Corpus Christi Chapel
5.15 pm Evening Prayer in St Lawrence
7.45 pm Choir practice in St Lawrence