Churches Count on Nature

I am sure you will have heard in the news about the decline in biodiversity that our nation is experiencing.
Churchyards are often seen as a crucial haven for wildlife and in the second week of June many churches are recording the wildlife in their churchyards and reporting what they find to the National Biodiversity Network. This should provide useful data on what is happening to wildlife and enable decisions to be made on what actions can best be taken to help recovery.

We would love your help in recording the animals and plants that inhabit St John’s Churchyard. We hope this can be a fun activity for all the family. We will not assume you are an expert and there will be books and information sheets to help with identification, together with fun sheets for the children.

We would like to make this a family occasion and have chosen the time for our count as:

Sunday 12th June from 12noon to 2pm

We invite you to join in and to bring a picnic so we can eat together too.
There is no need to register – just turn up to St John’s Church. We recommend that you wear gloves and stout footwear. We would ask that all children are accompanied and supervised by a responsible adult. If you have a clipboard, you might find that useful, also a pencil/pen and any books/apps you have to help identify wildlife.
If you have a particular expertise or general knowledge about wildlife and nature, we’d love to hear from you. Please do get in touch beforehand via the church office.

Nobody fell in the lake

Ferneyhurst Lake was the target for our litter picking efforts in early May. It was a beautiful morning and we enjoyed the company of some very small ducklings, along with adult mallards and other bird species.

The mature hawthorn was covered in blossom and the fish in the lake were evident!
However, the photo below shows how much rubbish a group of us were able to clear in just one hour: if only the people who enjoy this scenic spot would be careful to take their rubbish home with them (or even use the nearby litter bins), our work would be unnecessary.

There were several other pickers who had left the scene before the photo was taken: there were also some bits that were taken home to be repurposed. A couple of the pickers also took home with them the ‘recyclables’ to put into their own wheelie bins, and the glass bottles were taken to the bottle bank.
Next month’s pick will probably take place on Saturday June 4th (Pick for the Queen?) at 10.30 am, but this is the Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend so do keep a close eye on the church website, www.twinspires.org.uk, for details of location and confirmation of date. Stout footwear and gardening gloves required and accompanied children are very welcome.

Mary Carter and Marion Swinerd

Ladies Get Together

We are re-starting our ladies’ social get-togethers, and the first one will be a cuppa and catch-up (and some cake of course!)

on Saturday 11th June 9.30 – 11am
in St John’s Church Hall.

If possible, please contact Tracey by Wednesday 8th June if you are coming, or for more details: 07904 502214.
Hope to see you there!

Why dont you join the PCC?

The Parochial Church Council (PCC) is the combined governing body of both St Boniface and St John’s Churches.

We meet approximately five times each year and to make decisions on all matters concerned with mission, worship, fabric, finance and pastoral life. In between meetings we have several subcommittees that meet to consider specific areas of church life in more detail.

The only “qualification” you need is to be on the electoral role – everyone has something to give and we would welcome your interest.

If you would like to find out more, please email Lynn Black, PCC Secretary.