We try to organise events that will appeal to all but not necessarily all at the same time! Not all are purely fun, as you will see as you browse around this site, we try to incorporate conservation training into our development plans as well. 

The page title “Social & Training” might seem a little odd but these are two aspects of the overall project that we can already deliver, maybe not to the degree we would like but you have to start somewhere!

“Open days” demonstrate building techniques and skills associated with our needs at St. Bartholomew’s and some that are not such as stone carving, honey lemonade, skep making. Slate cutting and dressing along with lime mortar are a couple of skills required in most of our projects however and lime mortar skills have been passed on to people locally for use on their own properties.

The village looks after the churchyard with a view to improving the plot for wildlife and visitor alike, a few years ago it was covered in cow parsley in the summer months but continued strimming has improved the number of wildflower species returning Work parties clear up in the autumn in preparation for a spring showing of snowdrops.

Those events that are strictly social include music, food, tea, coffee, cakes, beer and good company. 

We use a local artisan brewer and call the bar “The Skypwyth Arms”, after our most famous permanent resident (a genuinely nasty piece of work but we overlook that). The tea, coffee and cake aspect is catered for by the Covenham Village Volunteers and the collaboration works well. We do not have electricity or water on site and the interior of the church is still full of fixed Victorian pews so we erect a large canopy in the churchyard in case of rain, we make the most of what we have.