| It
was a rainy day..... |
 |
when
David Bellamy and David Shreve from the Conservation Foundation arrived
at the Parish Church of St Mary's, Horham, Suffolk, to perform the giving
out of last Yews for the Millennium.
"Had
it been fine, everyone would have been at the cricket and not
here", DB said, his glass forever half full.
|
 |
Representatives
from over 250 parishes throughout the diocese of St Edmundsbury & Ipswich
came despite with their umbrellas and sensible shoes to collect their
millennial yews.
Pictured
here are representatives of the Parish of Metfield: Victor, Pru and
Maggie. |
 |
| The
Sally army played a tune or two to keep us cheerful in the rain, until
.... |
 |
| the
Bishop arrived. (The Bishop of Dunwich - the Rt. Revd. Clive Young) |
 |
| and
everyone took their place |
 |
| There
was singing, lead by David Streeter, vicar of St Mary’s.... |
 |
| under
the colourful umbrellas of various origins...... |
 |
...
reflecting the Suffolk farming tradition.
("Put
British Pork Back On Your Fork.... EAT MEAT) |
 |
| David Bellamy talked about the importance of biodiversity from Zarathustra
to Francis Bacon. |
 |
| They
cut the cake of much moisture and good things (as we discovered afterwards) |
 |
| And
finally, down to the business at hand: David and the Bishop planted the
yew for St Mary's (and discussed its long term requirements).... |
 |
| ...as
the 250 parish representatives queued in the nature of the wild graveyard
to receive their yews. |
 |
| (they
were quietly waiting under the font) |
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They
were handed out by Libby, the great organiser of this national event,
and today known as the lady with the hat |
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| A
young yew for a young girl. |
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| Young
yews by old pews. |
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| And
by the pulpit an extraordinary story of a man called Harvey who used to
scythe the graveyard grass, preserving the wild flowers. He died October
last(1999) and one of the final things he did was to order the Millennium
yew. |
 |
| The
end. |
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