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Quaker Burial Ground and  Community Garden

I started working here as a volunteer during the summer of 2019. I am a Quaker, though what draws me here is not much to do with Quakers. Having retired from a 'people and desk job', I wanted to do something physical. I had thought it was going to be on an urban farm with educational openings. But something must have happened. They didn't follow up my application or my form got lost. Then, one day, I realised I had the perfect garden, just round the corner from me. ​Several years ago, a small group from The Avenues Neighbourhood Network (TANN) set up a partnership with Liverpool Quakers to create a community wildlife garden in a space, which had become neglected over the years.  

I have found being part of a local, non-Quaker community group, maintaining the old Quaker Burial Ground (QBG), learning new skills, noticing more, particularly the changing seasons and wildlife (I'm still bad at this) to be wonderfully enriching. The first word that comes to mind, as I walk to the end of the entrance path, is 'Breathe'. It is so beautiful, a calming space. And, often to my surprise, being present there, just for one afternoon a week, has provided enormous opportunities for creativity.

I started to keep notes after each session this year, something to look back on and learn from, building my own level of knowledge and competence. I think I got as far as July, when I stopped writing and just enjoyed being there. At the start, a colleague had told me 'Try it. You can't do anything wrong!' These were just the right words for me, as all my life, I've feared getting it 'wrong'. And so it proved, till I cut back the clematis next to the columbarium in an excess of zeal, clearing out old stuff. Oh, dear!

Yet, magically, this seemed to give the clematis the oomph it needed and it has shot up again, more vigorous and stronger than you can possibly imagine, so they say.

I sometimes ponder, sitting on the bench with my flask and book on a sunny summer's day or on the benches under the pergola on a wet and windy one whether I'd give my own garden, if  I had one, the same loving care and attention. At the beginning,I would probably have said no. But now, with everything I have picked up, not least enjoying colllaboration and being adventurous, I think I would be happy there. I keep on learning and growing, ha! During the past couple of years of lockdowns due to covid, I appreciate the value to me and others of every green, open space for our physical and emotional health. And who'd have thought I'm becoming a gardener?!? Not me!

There is a Facebook group, The Quaker BG Wild life and Community Garden, where you can follow the changes in the garden throughout the seasons.

And I've made several short fillums, as I call them. You will find these by following the link on the Film page above (or About me) to Vimeo and scroll along the film titles.

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