The 'Friends of Pear Tree Church' have recently received a grant from the Gannett Foundation to locate a Maritime, History and Ecology Trail around the Churchyard. The most time-consuming part of this - permission from the Conservation Officer and obtaining a Faculty (planning permission) from the Diocese - has now been completed.

We have begun to put the trail around the Churchyard - signposts in the form of rustic stakes will be placed at some 20 key points in the Churchyard and each one will tell part of the story of Pear Tree churchyard and / or point out to some of the wildlife present.

The information will eventually be available in a number of different ways:

• A  simple free A4 sheet detailing the trail - this will be available in local shops, libraries and is downloadable from this web site.

  • Download as PDF File (300k) or Word File (1.2m)

   

• A more informative booklet which may be purchased from a number of local vendors but also available as a free download from this web site. In course of production

• We are exploring the possibility of a downloadable audio-guide which can be used on PDA's, compatible Mobile Phones or in mP3 players - if the Vicar can get the technology sorted!

• We are in the process of putting together a range of Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 workbooks which will be available to local (and indeed any) schools to download.

  • Download a sample Key Stage 2 Workbook as a PDF File (700k) or Word File (3m)

We have contracted with Great Oaks School for them to construct 30 bird, bee, bat and butterfly boxes this year and a further 30 next year for use in and around the churchyard. The first four Robin / Wren boxes are on site, a further 6 Tit boxes are awaiting location. Great Oaks School is part of Southampton's provision to Special Educational Needs pupils and continues our link with the former Ridgeway School which was so much part of the life of the Parish until it closed.

As part of this trail we shall also be relocating the old Richard Parker memorial stone and replacing it with a new one - watch this space.

Please come back and see how this page is developing and in the meantime, here is a simple Virtual Tour of both Church and Churchyard. Click on the thumbnails and you get a much bigger picture - which might take a little while to download if you are not on Broadband.