Living Churchyard: What to look out for in February

Hello everyone ! Each month I will be looking at some of the wildlife you can find in our churchyard. St Peter and Paul’s churchyard has one of the few Living Churchyards in the diocese. This means it is looked after in a way to allow wildlife to flourish.

Let’s look at a couple of the flowers you can find this month….

Drifts of snowdrops

Snowdrops are the flowers of February and they are absolutely beautiful. After the darkness of winter, snowdrops are a welcome and early sign that spring is on its way. The origins of UK snowdrops are a mystery - they are associated with purity and thus were planted around religious sites from the middle ages onwards so there is some question as to whether it is a native flower. Whatever the case, it is a welcome bloom in the most flowerless of months.

Primroses

Another flower often cited as February's birth flower is the primrose, a pale yellow perennial with European origins. They are edible flowers that can add a pop of colour to your favourite treat (or birthday cupcake)! Primrose is a type of herbaceous plant that belongs to the family Primulaceae (primrose family). It originates from Europe. Primrose mostly inhabits temperate areas of the Northern hemisphere. It grows in moist, but well-drained soil, in partial shade.

Why not have a lookout for the new snowdrops and primroses and let us know what else you come across. Post your photos to Facebook and enjoy the first signs of Spring! See you again in March.