Next to the Anglican Cathedral is a low-level cemetery, formed from the old quarry. We entered it at the south end. It was pretty bleak in February, populated by the usual Wood Pigeons, Crows and Magpies, with a single Wren on a gravestone. Someone had been leaving flowers at the grave of Kitty Wilkinson, who has been remembered as the “Saint of the Slums” for pioneering washhouses and public baths for the poor.
The lawns and verges were full of snowdrops, in great carpets in some places.
New young trees with nursery labels were dotted about. A labelled one at the south end was Prunus domestica, a plum, so perhaps the other unlabelled ones nearby were similar fruit and blossom trees. A labelled one at the north end was far more exciting – Paulownia tomentosa, a Foxglove tree! (left foreground) It was quite a tall young tree, too. We need to visit that one again in a more interesting season.
There was no sign of the Peregrine Falcons which used to nest on the Cathedral tower. According to local news reports, the Cathedral fitted anti-bird netting to their preferred nesting site in spring 2022. What a shame. Then we went into the Cathedral to see the Exhibition “Threads through the Bible”. It consists of 44 huge panels of embroidery depicting Creation, the life of Jesus, and Revelation. They are by the artists Jacqui Parkinson.
She is quite good on animals and birds. See the “Expulsion from the Garden of Eden” above. It seems to have a parade of animals like some kind of Noah’s ark. The lamb is lovely and there is an incongruous US bird, the Roadrunner, below the giraffe. She has also included occasional little side panels with shellfish, caterpillars, tree seeds and the like, amongst which I spotted this British rarity, the Ladybird Spider.
Public transport details: Bus 82 from Elliot Street at 10.15, arriving only 5 minutes later at St James’ Place / Upper Hill Street. Returned on foot as it was all downhill, via Rodney Street and Bold Street.
Next week we plan to go to Walton City Farm and woodland. Meet 10 am Queen Square.