AFTERMATH Blog
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As we prepare to engage with the aftermath of
the COVID-19 pandemic, we contemplate an earlier aftermath. In October 1940, St James's was hit by high explosive and incendiary bombs. 42 species of plants sprang from the ruins. What can we learn from their resilience? On Palm Sunday, 28th March, we re-sowed some of the St James's 'weeds' in a 'bomb-site' micro- environment specially created in the courtyard. During April, look out for videos, poetry, music, dance, botanical and ecological research and more on the theme of SEED; online and in the courtyard. Events will be posted on this page. To get involved, please email churchwardens@sjp.org.uk. |
One of the aims is to question false hierarchies:
and perhaps the whole concept of 'weeds' - which in the case of the St James's species are wind-dispersed pioneer-herbs, some of which are important food crops in other parts of the world, have medicinal properties or are valuable food/habitat for animals. If you are inspired by this project and would like to support the work of St James's as we emerge into a new Aftermath, please donate by texting SEED and the amount you wish to donate to 70460 e.g. SEED5, SEED10 or SEED15 to donate £5, £10 or £15, plus the cost of one standard rate text message. There is more information about how to support St James's here https://www.sjp.org.uk/donate.html |
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AFTERMATH: blown-in
Click left to watch a short video of mono-prints by Sara Mark with music by Pat Livingstone. It illustrates the various seeds that blew into St James’s after the bombing in 1940. |
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SOWING THE SEEDS
On Palm Sunday (28th March), seeds of 13 of our pioneer species were blessed at the Sunday Eucharist, then sown in the Bomb Box in the courtyard. In this short film by Tom Gidman, Deborah Colvin explains what is happening and members of the community sow the seeds. As we continue to emerge into our own Covid-19 aftermath, we bless these seeds, these blow-ins and pioneers who found a home in the ruins, put down roots and re-grew, building new plant communities. And we bless each other as we engage with these plants and this project, learning from their wildness and resilience, building our own communities anew. |
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GROW YOUR OWN!
19 members of the St James's community have sown seeds in their own home places - sadly our supply is now exhausted! The seed mix contains Codlins and Cream, Fat Hen, Rosebay Willowherb, Canadian Fleabane, Black Horehound, Black Nightshade, Nipplewort, Fools Parsley, Goosefoot, Gallant Soldiers, Corn Chamomile, Common Groundsel, and Coltsfoot. |
Most of the seeds are tiny and therefore very well-suited to windblown dispersal.
The flat, winged pale-coloured ones are Fools Parsley.
The flat, winged pale-coloured ones are Fools Parsley.