The forecourt and garden of Hereford Baptist Church is a busy area, providing a rest and meeting place for passers-by and a welcoming entrance to the church off Commercial Road.
Over the past few years the garden has witnessed much hard work producing some prize-winning displays in the
'Hereford in Bloom' contest and has been much appreciated by congregation and visitors alike.
In October a new phase for the garden will begin. The
Eco-Mission Action Group will start to develop plantings that will provide a pleasant environment based on the principles of self-sustaining plant communities. The majority of our natural environment is home to plant communities that are relatively stable, attractive and home to all kinds of creatures. They all bear witness to our Creator God through their diversity and in every detail.
The principles of self-sustaining gardens are that over time plant communities develop that are well suited to the prevailing conditions, whether wet or dry, exposed or sheltered. Plants that are not well suited simply give way to ones that prosper in the given conditions. With minimal intervention attractive displays can be sustained.
It is hoped that the garden will be fed purely by composting green kitchen waste that will encourage healthy soil conditions and that watering will be limited to rain water collected from the roof.
The project will start in October with short gardening sessions on Saturday mornings. The initial stages will start with tidying up and initial improving of the soil, and the establishment of blanketing ground cover planting.
Eco-MAG is seeking support with both volunteers for the work and also the donation of plants that may be suitable for this project. In the initial stage a list of plants that could be made available will help us draw up a planting scheme that matches plants with similar cultural needs. We hope to have a drought tolerant low planting and also a more luxuriant area, making use of richer soil and a little shade.
We hope that the garden will stimulate thought on minimising use of limited resources and on recycling waste as well as providing a talking point with all we meet about God the Creator, our faith and stewardship of the earth.
