May 2010 Update
Part 1 - Trees | Part 2 - Roses | Part 3 - Memorial Plants and Planting Plan
A year ago I outlined the planting scheme for the St. Lawrence Churchyard, based on a Medieval theme (but stretched somewhat to include the Tudor period), and this article is a brief comment on progress (or lack of it).
The memorial trees and roses were planted as planned by the donor families and all seemed fine, with plenty of vigorous new growth, but marauding deer took a fancy to the succulent new shoots and flower buds, and the floral display was consequently very poor. Later in the year the rose regrowth was attacked by mildew, aphids and caterpillars, and the final blow came in October when honey fungus was identified on the decaying stump of the old laurel tree.
To try and counter the honey fungus all the trees and roses on the west side have been moved towards the Church, adjacent to the path, and donors will be advised of the new locations (see the updated planting plan). Measures will be taken to control the other problems by good husbandry and careful spraying, so that hopefully we shall have a good display of old-fashioned roses this year.
The rose area has been underplanted with native and very old bulb species, (wild, Tenby and Pheasants Eye daffodils, crocus and muscari) and will be top-dressed with woodchip when the bulbs have finished.
The planned "Flowery Meadow" was planted for starters with Winter Aconites and Snakes Head Fritillary but practically all the bulbs have rotted away in the cold wet winter. We shall try again this year in the area vacated by the roses.
The remaking of the path has continued intermittently, and work will start again in the near future. I would like to thank the "heavy gang" for their dedicated labour in digging foundations, breaking up concrete, packing in hardcore, mixing cement and laying paving slabs.
Sadly two trees have been lost this winter - first an Elder tree near Church Hill that blew down in a gale, then more seriously the Horse Chestnut tree near Manor Avenue that was dying back very rapidly from a serious attack of honey fungus and had to be felled. This has left the bench rather isolated and exposed and it is proposed to move it into the corner near the cottage.
For plant lovers it is worth noting that there is a superb display of the native blue scented violet (Viola odorata) near the seat, which is complemented by a clump of the white form under the large sycamore behind St. Paul's Centre in St. Mary's Churchyard. (I'll try exchanging a few seedlings).
The plantings of cowslips and native bluebells on the south side of the Church appear to have survived the winter.
Finally, Charley Formosa, the District Commissioner of the Caterham Area Guides, will shortly be starting to enter in the Book of Remembrance the details of all the Memorial Plaques, trees and roses that can be located and identified in the Churchyard. It is a mammoth task and we are very grateful to Charley for undertaking this for us. The Book of Remembrance, donated by the late Joan Lambert in memory of her husband Bryan Lambert who was a Reader at St. Mary's, is kept in a beautiful display cabinet near the organ console in the north aisle of St. Mary's. Please ask one of the Wardens or me if you wish to see it.
Next time I report, I trust that all in the garden will be brighter.
John Gilbert
From The Beacon, April 2010
