At All Hallows we are passionate about our Christian responsibility to look after God’s world, and saddened when we hear about the damage caused by climate change and global warming.
We want to play our part in making a difference!
Our next event will appear here….
Watch this space for more exciting news.
We have signed up for Eco-Church, a national initiative organised by A Rocha, a Christian environmental charity, to help us to think about how we care for our natural environment and take some positive action. The Eco-Church challenge covers five aspects:
- our worship and teaching,
- our buildings and energy,
- our land (churchyard and gardens) and nature,
- our community and global engagement, and
- our lifestyle.
To achieve our Bronze Award in 2025, did lots of things such as digging a new flower bed, building a big bug hotel, putting up bird boxes and adding a water butt. We are now working towards our Silver Award and have set ourselves some new targets including:
- praying for environmental issues at least monthly in our Sunday intercessions,
- making sure our social media posts include information about caring for God’s earth,
- using recycled printer and toilet paper,
- growing more plants for pollinators,
- having notices to encourage people to switch off lights,
- using Fairtrade tea and coffee in church after Sunday services,
- organise walks in local nature reserves,
- change to a more ethical bank,
- change to a ‘green’ electricity provider and tariff.
Churchyard Wildlife Project
As part of eco-church we are also trying to enhance our church grounds for nature. We have made a start by digging a new flower bed in front of the church hall and planting it with pollinator friendly plants, and have taken part in ‘no mow May’ to help the pollinators, but we have lots more ideas such as more flowers, especially along the railings and near the seat to make it a more attractive areas for local people, adding in bug hotels and bird boxes, and even putting in a small barrel pond!
But we need more help to do all this. If you think you’d like to be involved, please get in touch. Maybe you’ve got gardening or carpentry skills, or would just like to meet with others and join in with whatever is going on! We’d love to hear from you with your ideas too. Get in touch to find out more.
Tips for Caring for God’s Earth
This list will grow slowly, but here are a few to start with. If you have any suggestions, get in touch!
1. Recycle batteries – take them to the local Co-op or supermarket.
2. Don’t buy new plastic plant pots – reuse yoghurt pots and punch holes in them for drainage!
3. Buy loose fruit and veg if possible to cut down on plastic usage.
4. Grow your own – a tomato plant in a pot can produce lots of tomatoes, and salad can be grown indoors most of the year. Much healthier, cheaper and fewer food miles!
5. Reduce food waste – ‘use by’ date should be kept to, but ‘sell by’ doesn’t mean you need to throw it away – most things with a ‘sell by’ date last longer. It will also save you money!
6. Take a cup and reusable water bottle with you when you’re out to save using plastic cups/bottles.
7. Turn the tap off while cleaning your teeth to save water – and reduce your water bill!
8. Recycle blister pack (empty pill packs). Take to Boots in Tavern St or put in the box at the back if church.
9. Save used stamps and take to St Elizabeth hospice shops or put in the box at the back of church.
10. Don’t leave appliances (TV, laptop) on standby. It costs you money and wastes electricity.