Author Archive: davest

Happy New Year

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Happy New Year

Thanks to all our graveyard friends who volunteered during 2024. Their efforts have made St Giles Hill Graveyard a better place. We hope you all had a great Christmas and looking forward to 2025 wishing you a wonderful New Year.

Friends of St Giles Hill Graveyard had an eventful 2024. We have had excellant attendance of volunteers at workdays and continued support of our activities from Winchester City Council (WCC). The weather as usual has played its unpredictable part with this year's rainfall well upon the average for the last 10 years, and with few cold or hot periods. This has meant we had an exceptional year of growth that kept the strimmers and mowers busy.

Some of this year's activities:

At the beginning of the year, we planted three Dutch Elm Disease resistant Elm saplings (cultivars Lutece and Azemuz). This is a part of a "bring back" the Elms project (the saplings were paid for by Winchester Rotary). The plantings in part mitigate for lost trees on our site. They are doing very well.

Early in the year, FSGHG undertook a major review of our Management Plan to align it with WCC  initiatives. The plan can be found at this link on the website.

At the end of April, WCC removed many Sycamore trees (totaling 16 trucks) from along the southern boundary wall of the graveyard. This created a lot of disturbance and biomass to be managed. Small branches were chipped for use on paths etc. The larger trunks were cut into smaller chunks some of which were later taken for firewood by neighbours. We don’t like to see trees being taken down but on the plus side, it produced more open areas for meadow development.

Hogweed roots

The persistent wet has meant that Hogweed which currently covers around 50% of the graveyard has been a particular nuisance. Not only because it suppresses the growth of other species of plant, but also because the sap can burn if got on the skin and exposed to sunlight. People who strim vegetation are particularly prone.

We have used a few methods to reduce its dominance. These include early deadheading and collection of all seed heads, the placement of plant suppressing material temporarily over graves, and, targeted herbicide. However, it’s a deep-rooted plant and sometimes the only way to get rid of it is to dig the roots up.

Ringed border (Stegania cararia)

Moth Night was held on the 29th of June 2024. Moth traps were set up around the gabions. Whilst the total tally of 57 moth species was below expectation for the time of year it was not bad considering it has been an overall poor year for Lepidoptera. Also, we had the fortune to attract a rare moth - The Ringed Border. This moth is found from France to Russia but is an immigrant to the UK. It lives in damp forests the larval foodplant being Poplar. The moth usually flies from the end of June to the end of August.  There have only been a few occurrences of this species in the UK. Another sighting occurred in August 2024 in Sussex and was reported by the BBC.

 

 

 

In August of this year two colonies of Striped Lychnis (Shargacucullia lychnitis) were again spotted in the graveyard.  This moth is a UK BAP (Biodiversity Action Plan) Priority Species and is being encouraged by WCC. The adult moth is rarely seen as it is nocturnal. It is more likely to be seen in the larval stage owing to the striking colour of the caterpillars. The larvae were first observed in late July 2022.

Striped Lychnis (Shargacucullia lychnitis)

This year our volunteers have prepared a lot of ground for sowing meadow grass and wold flowered. A patchwork of areas around the graveyard has now been completely cleared of roots prior to seeding or adding plug/potted plants. This year we have concentrated on the North-western segment of the site where Hogweed is rampant. Areas cleared in the late summer already have good germination of the meadow mix that was sown. We will need to wait until spring to see of the areas sown later will germinate.

 

Seeded gound

Cleared ground

Finally thanks for the support given by Coral Rogers and Andrew Turner of Winchester City Council and their team from Id Verde, the “Two Dave’s”.

Volunteers having coffee

Notice of Friends St Giles Hill Graveyard AMG

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We will be holding an AGM to report on our activities on the 19th March at 6:30 pm.

Location: Fieldfare Palm Hall Close.

There is limited space at this venue so members must indicate they will attend by the 12th March.

Agenda

  • Apologies for absence
  • Chair’s report

– Review of activities

– Plan for the coming year

  • Treasurer’s report
  • Election of committee
  • Any other business

Traditional Flint Wall Repair Project

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The front of St Giles Hill Graveyard showing the damaged wall section to the left of the gate.

You may have noticed that we have carried out some emergency repair work on a part of the front wall of the graveyard because the extreme wet had hastened its possible collapse.

The damaged section of the wall this September when a new pavement was being installed (reason for red barriers)

Saddleback capping bricks sitting on a course of normal bricks

The winter months are usually avoided because the lime mortar dries slowly. The work was done in two stages to allow the mortar to dry. First, flints were mortared in place and left for a couple of days. Then a course of bricks was set on top. This is not the finish. A course of saddleback capping bricks is needed to finish off. We don’t currently have enough capping bricks to finish the job.

Repair work is scheduled to resume next year when we have acquired specialist capping bricks that match the originals.

We need 40 to 45 capping bricks to replace those lost. They are unavailable as reclaimed bricks. We have found a good modern match, that will need to be cut down to size at extra cost. The total cost will be £340. We are currently collecting the money to buy them. If anyone can spare the odd £5 in these difficult times, it would help a lot. FSGHG bank details can be found on the website. SUPPORT US

 

As you can see in the photo, the lime mortar used is rather yellow. An identical lime mortar has been used elsewhere in the graveyard and it does tone down with time.

The wall after a course of bricks had been mortared in place.

New workday schedules 2022/23

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The new Saturday workday schedule is shown below:

 

Occasionally the dates might be changed so please check. More details will be published on Facebook and the website events section prior to the workday.

We are also running mid-week schedule for those who are unable to attend on Saturday.

 

 

Friends of St Giles Hill Graveyard Workday – Saturday 11th September 2021

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Instructions as follows:

Meet at the front gate Alresford Rd. from 10:00am.

Please sign in and view the risk assessment.

Tools will be available, but please bring stout footwear and gloves. Your own tools are welcome especially 2-stroke or battery strimmers. No problem if you can only stay and hour.

If the weather is inclement, we will cancel the workday. If in doubt or you need more information call 07772300271

Tasks include:

Cutting back vegetation, tending memorials, collecting sticks and stones and making dead hedges. Clearing ground ready for sowing seed.

Location of St Giles Hill Graveyard entrance.

Chairmans report given AGM on 13th July 2021

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Chairs report covering the period February 2020 to June 2021.

This is the first AGM to be held by Friends of St Giles Hill Graveyard.

Thanks to everyone for your support during the year. A summary of our activity is given below under headings reflecting our goals for the year.

Structure and governance.

  • February 2020 – became constituted, the current constitution was adopted.
  • March 2020 – Planned open day postpones owing to Covid.
  • April/May 2020 – review of governance policies during the report period. Available documents outlining our policies cover safeguarding, data protection and privacy, safety and equality and diversity.

Accessibility: The introduction of mechanized tools has allowed us to keep the graveyard accessible. Working with hand tools is slow and requires many volunteers.

Increasing Biodiversity: Started preparing selected sunny open areas for sowing chalk grassland seed. This was done with the help of volunteers especially from the Rotary Club and the Rotaract Club. This was a great success. Other activities carried out include a programme of planting native flora plug plants. management of biomass on this site is carried out with the principle of no burning. Most of the material is used to make dead hedges or stumperies to aid wildlife. We have put up some bird nest boxes and plan to put up some bat boxes.

Getting people involved: Getting people involved during the covid-19 pandemic has been difficult. The monthly visits of the Community payback teams were curtailed and owing to the restrictions and our ability to organize volunteer work parties was limited. Despite this we have achieved much. Thank you to everyone.

Working with other groups:  We have been working with Rotary Club volunteers and hope that this will be a long-term relationship.  The Hampshire and IOW Amphibian and Reptile Group are carrying out a monitor survey. We are liaising with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission who periodically visit the war graves for maintenance. Other groups that we work with include the Winchester Rotary Club and Perlins Community Project based in Winnall who will be working with us in the autumn.

Cultural importance to community: We are using Facebook and our website to publish information and articles that explain the historic significance of St Giles Hill Graveyard to our local community.

Finances: The financial situation will be reported in detail by The Treasurer. The Friends have done very well with fund raising over the report period. FSGHG received £2165 during the report period and currently have £1032.19 in the bank account.

Other events:

Closure of the graveyard: The graveyard has recently been closed for burials. Winchester City Council (WCC) have already take over some work activity.

 

Looking forward.

In the coming period it is planned to work with The Rotary Club Conservation Group who we hope will support the graveyard with hands on volunteer activity in addition to the money donated. This includes the continuation of work to establish chalk grassland flora in open areas of the graveyard and putting up bird and bat boxes.

As restrictions are easing it will be important to increase the volunteer base and improve our workday planning by publishing a workday calendar and developing better communications. We would also like to better relationships with similar groups. Whilst continuing our existing relationships with interest groups we want to develop new projects with other groups in our area, for instance with Schools, Scouts and Guides or The University.

A longer-term project is to form a flint wall repair group. The wall is in a critical state crumbling in many places.

FSGHG will encourage further historical or archaeological research in the graveyard.

Currently our financial situation looks rosy, but there will be a long-term pressure to finance operation. We need to find a solution to this. Charging for membership has been one suggestion.

Newsletter April 2021

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It has been a busy month in St Giles Hill Graveyard. The cool dry weather has meant that we have not had to do a lot of mowing or strimming, but we have still had a lot of activity.

  • Charles Radcliff prospective Lib. Dem. candidate for Winchester City Council in the upcoming elections visited the graveyard on the 31st March to have a tour of the graveyard. Members of the friends committee Anna and Dave Stewart and Dominic Hiscock were also there to greet him. We discussed the importance of the graveyard for local people, heritage, and wildlife.

 

  • With the impending transfer of duty of maintenance of the graveyard from church to Winchester City Council And following discussions at the end of march work visits have been made to the graveyard by Id Verde personnel and arboriculturists to carry out work that FSGHG are not insured for.

Tree men in St Giles Hill Graveyard.

  • A work group from The Rotary Club visited on the 10th April and did some fine work preparing ground to sow chalk meadow grass seeds. We now have to wait for warmer and wetter times to do the sowing.

 

  • Brian Cooper who makes bird boxes for nature trusts (including Winnall Moors) delivered 4 bird boxes to the graveyards on the 19th April. He also helped us put them up. We aim to put more boxes up at a later stage as well as bat boxes.

Brian Cooper putting up Bird boxes with the help of Dave Stewart in St Giles Hill Graveyard.

Steve Brine with Dominic Hiscock and Dave Stewart from FSGHG.

 

  • We are currently having discussions with the Rotary Club Conservation Group about a longer-term relationship that would benefit the graveyard. We hope to announce something soon.Closure of the graveyard for burials: The Privy Council had a meeting on the 28th St Giles Hill

 

  • Graveyard is mentioned under the Burial Act 1853 (notices) – Order giving notice of the discontinuance of burials. Notices announcing this will go up on the graveyard gates. After a month it will go back to Privy Council for the final closure order, probably in July. The map below is part of the privy council meeting document.

As we come out of lockdown and the weather gets warmer and wetter, we will need volunteers so please offer your services by Emailing fsghg@stgileshill.org.uk or one of the committee members.