Caring for and developing the St John’s green space

9th September 2018 by

As a church, we do not employ a groundsperson at either St John’s or St Mary’s. We are on the lookout for volunteers to help us keep the grounds at both sites, and are very grateful for those who have given their time in this way in the past. At the St John’s end, Mary Manthey and team help with flower beds, Don Johnson and one or two others are often working the vegetable patch behind the church and Jonathan Palmer and his family look after lawns and hedges. Jonathan explains some of his thoughts and plans for the St John’s site.

As some of you know, I have been cutting the lawn at St Johns for many years. The grounds of St John’s are extensive and it is a real privilege to have them. All of my four children have had the privilege to use the grounds as an extend “back garden” and have helped cut the lawn, plant spring bulbs and clean up the within the grounds. In addition, there is also a number of people who regularly help with the boarders, but it’s a significant job maintain the grounds and we need your help.

From September we are looking to introduce a number of initiatives to help attract wildlife to the grounds of St John’s. It will be really fun for all involved and will include a Bug Hotel, tidying up the wildlife area in the far corner and accessing whether we could introduce a Bee Hive with Gentle Bees from Buckfast Abbey in Devon https://www.buckfast.org.uk/bees-past-and-present into the
Grounds.

Other ideas gratefully received. We would also like to plant 5,000 Crocuses Bulbs later in September – donations and help with planting gratefully received.

We also need five people to help cut the hedge in September, which with many hands can be done relatively quickly. Even committing 1 hour of your time a month would help and if you have children I know they would get a lot from the experience. Please feel free to reach out to me on 07836542197 or Boats02@googlemail.com. I would hope we can attract a team of 20 volunteers.

Jonathan Palmer