Spring is well and truly here in the churchyard. Primroses are increasing every year, white and blue violets under the copper beech tree, daffodils, fritillaries, pulmonarias and flowering shrubs. Bumble bees were busy getting nectar from the pulmonarias and the winter flowering honeysuckle. Dorset is one of the best counties for wild solitary bees and bumble bees.
At Messy Church this month 30 children with their parents enjoyed activities linked to the parable Jesus told of The Sower. Some came out into the churchyard to sprinkle some wildflower seeds. They found the four different areas mentioned in the parable: the path, rocky ground, thorny ground and good ground. They found good soil in the weeded bed near the lift and will be checking to see what comes up.
The gardening team has been hard at work. Bobby strimming the long grass areas and the west wall bed. Ing-Marie thoroughly weeding the lift bed. And Keith cutting back the brambles from the wildlife area revealing the Bug Church.
Inside the church you will see the new LED lighting. There are up-lights showing the lovely timber arches of the nave, also revealing spiders’ webs. We have it on good authority that spiders protect the wood from death watch beetle. When the beetles emerge from their deep holes to mate, the spiders get to work catching them. So we need to respect these tiny insects and their webs as having a very useful function.
Encourage solitary bees by making a home out of small piece of bamboo canes or hollow fennel stalks, tie together, and hang in your gardens.
Gillian Perrott
Holy Week Reflection – Sharing in Communion
Holy Week Reflection – Sharing in Prayer
Holy Week Reflection – Sharing in Holy Week
