Thinking of wildlife in our churchyard we need to provide a water feature both for insects, small mammals, and birds to drink from also for birds to refresh their feathers. This water feature will need to be very shallow and have easy access for small creatures but also be safe for young families enjoying the churchyard. We are considering ways of doing this such as a picket fence surrounding it and/or some form of netting over the top.
We are also planning to have a top bar hive for bees. This will be sited near the south boundary so as not to cause bees to fly directly into the churchyard but encourage them to take off at height away from the area surrounding where people are. Bees have suffered badly this year due to the cold and continued rainfall. However, despite this there are many bees feasting on lavender and scabiosa both still flowering around the church as I write. If anybody has a top bar hive surplus to requirements or if anyone who enjoys carpentry could make one for us, please let me know. We can provide the wood and plans for it. We are hoping to apply for a grant to cover the cost of the materials from the Beaminster Area ECO Group.
Remember to stock up your bird feeders as the colder weather sets in and berries get used up from hedgerows. Also provide small native solitary bee homes. Check out websites for building them.
Gillian Perrott
Worship at Home – Sunday 6 October 2024
Rev Chat Episode 234 – “The Children’s Kingdom”
October 2024 Eco Church Update
