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Comments, complaints, broken links, disappointed hopes - please contact the caretaker. 11/10/2009 |
[Churchyard page] [Historical Plan of the Churchyard]
Ordsall Church has approximately three-acres of churchyard, now almost full. Ordsall Churchyard Wildlife Group was set up in November 1996. ¨ To record, conserve, and increase the diversity of the flora and fauna of the churchyard of All Hallows Church, Ordsall. ¨ To maintain and enhance the churchyard as a public amenity. ¨ To promote education in Ordsall using the churchyard as a resource. The group meets regularly and has working parties in the churchyard on the last two Saturdays of each month (weather permitting) starting about 2pm. All welcome! The group is affiliated to British Trust of Conservation Volunteers (BTCV) Fund raising Working Parties We try to get a group together to do major clearing or planting work. All starting around 2pm - bring gardening clothes and basic tools for ground clearing. All very welcome. Next meeting - WILDLIFE PROJECT ANNUAL REPORT 2008 In October the group received an Achievers Award from Bassetlaw District Council for creating a wildlife habitat within the churchyard. Councillor Carolyn Troop nominated the group, and members attended a presentation evening at the council offices. I thank Councillor Troop for taking an interest and supporting the project and nominating the group. The group have held regular planning meetings and working party days to carry out general maintenance of the churchyard and old allotment area. Additional work involved, back filling of graves that sunk after the heavy summer rain, removal of excess soil from grave digging, hard cutting back of hedges, clearing the overgrown area of saplings at the rear of the Vestry and clearing the border garden at the Hill Street of plants and tree stumps. A spring and autumn planting regime has continued throughout the old and new churchyards putting in bulbs and shrubs funded by the project. The group has paid for refurbishment of 50 metres of the worst section of the long east west grass path. It had been uneven for several years and dished in the centre making it dangerous under foot in wet weather. The subject has been a matter of discussion for some time due to cost and the logistics of closing the path to carry out the work. A contractor was hired to carry out the work quickly but did not come cheap. The path has been re laid with stadium grade turf and creates a flat level surface for pedestrians and for use of wheelchairs and pushchairs. I believe it is fitting that the path has been repaired in keeping with our late member Mick Newton’s wishes of retaining grass paths within English Churchyards. Mick was always passionate about the traditional look. The group are in the process of applying to erect a hardwood lectern style information sign in the old churchyard area for the posting of project information, maps and notices. The group recycle some of the waste created and are looking at ways of recycling and composting more material. Steve Aston, Wildlife Project Chair person WILDLIFE PROJECT – CHAIRMAN’S REPORT 2007
It is with great sadness to report that our friend and group member Brenda Plumtree passed away suddenly in April 2006. Brenda had been the group’s fund- raising coordinator since the start and brought much enthusiasm to the project. The group continue to hold regular meetings and working days. It holds fund-raising events and maintains a cutting and biannual planting regime. John Plumtree had additionally taken on the role of representative to the PCC. The group has its sights on improving two areas in the coming year. The long grass path which is treacherous during wet weather, and the water trough facility which is basic and leaks, making the approach soggy and slippery. Ideas will be submitted to the PCC. We are committed to help look after the churchyard for all those that enjoy it as an amenity but also for the wildlife that has made it a home. Finances are secure and public liability and accident insurance maintained. Steve Aston, Wildlife Project Chair Person
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