Weston Favell Village Cemetery Conservation Project
Chair Person’s Update (Autumn 2020)
Although activities in enclosed spaces have rightly been curtailed, outdoors has been a different matter. The Friends of Weston Favell Village Cemetery has been able to continue its work to rewild areas in the cemetery, somewhat on an ad hoc basis with individuals focusing on specific areas of seeding and planting. Thank you volunteers who felt able to support the work. And thank you to those residents who of their own volition have added to our stock from their own gardens.
Evidence of last year’s planting has clearly been visible along Graspin Lane in 2020. Rather hidden by the cemetery wall on Church Way Marna Johansen has also worked hard this year to prepare the ground immediately inside the gate. This has now been sown with next year in mind. It is hoped that the fruits of her labour, and that of others, will be evident to everybody when a pocket size wild meadow flowers next Spring. Definitely something to look forward to!
In the meantime I would like to share Marna’s own words as she describes the achievements of this strange year.
Due to the unprecedented events of 2020 we only had 2 working parties this year but steady progress is underway.
We hope you all enjoyed Graspin Lane’s borders planted with the Common Marigold which flowered endlessly. The wildflowers seeded in the autumn in 2019 in one of the borders were a great success, especially the Wild Carrots. We hope you also enjoyed the sunflowers in Church Way. A few people enjoyed them so much that they took half of them home!!After a few Meadow lessons, work was carried out on establishing our mini-meadow. With a sharp mini scythe we created a mosaic pattern of bare soil and grass in order to decrease the fertility of the soil as wildflowers love barren soil. On our last working party we planted snowdrops, crocuses and daffodils in the borders and under the two Cherry trees. And then, at last, a mass of wildflower seeds were sown on our mini- meadow so we are waiting excitedly to what spring brings along.
We would love you to step through Church Way gate next spring to see whether we have been successful.
Stay safe always and wish you a Happy Christmas.
The Cemetery Lady (member of FWFVC)”
I think Marna’s enthusiasm is self-evident, and infectious. I defy you not to be swept up in it. Please let us know if you would like to join the next working party, when the next spell of warm weather comes and when we are once again all allowed to congregate in the fresh air.