Environment E-news

Issue 49 | May 2023

God's Green Fingers Environment E-news

A Gold Eco Church Award! Congratulations to the whole team at St Mary’s Embsay, near Skipton. What an achievement to be the first church in the diocese to attain this accolade. Read all about their journey below, like every church it starts with registering on the Eco Church website and taking the relatively simple steps to a Bronze Award.

It also gives me great pleasure to tell you about the partnership we have with the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, who have kindly prepared a pack for all our churches to use for the Great Yorkshire Creature Count. So as we go into “blooming June” you can choose to undertake the Churches Count on Nature, 3-11 June, or the Great Yorkshire Creature Count 24/25th June. It’s time to get out in your churchyard (however big or small) and have fun looking for all the plants and animals it hosts.

Note: Some of the articles below link to the Church Times. You can read up to four Church Times articles each month free of charge by registering on their website.

God bless

Jemima Parker,

Diocesan Environment Officer

jemima.parker@leeds.anglican.org

Visit our Website

News

Diocese of Leeds Gains its First Eco Church Gold Award

Faith and dedication at St Mary’s, Embsay with Eastby, have earned it the first Gold Eco Church award in our diocese. St Mary’s Revd Canon Marion Russell commented: “It’s a great honour and we are grateful for the Eco Church Award structure and encouragement that comes for A Rocha UK to guide us to think and act more deeply with awareness of caring for God’s creation. We are committed to continuing our journey through learning more and sharing in our community and with other churches and groups.”

Churches Count Nature in Blooming June

Parishes across the diocese are joining in with this year’s Churches Count on Nature, an annual “wildlife census” for the nation’s churchyards. Running from Saturday, June 3 to Sunday, June 11, from Christ Church Lonsdale to Farnley Tyas, near Huddersfield, members of the congregation, the Sunday Schools or green teams will have the joy of plant, bug and animal hunting. Find resources for your church to take part here.

Green Aware Morning Helps in Huddersfield Church

St Saviour’s Church, Brownhill, hosted the morning, where local groups were invited to showcase their environmental work, and to chat to visitors. The church’s Environment Officer, Kate Anderson, ran the Eco Church display and discussed St Saviour’s progress. Other activities included a Kid’s Swap shop and making rubbish monsters from recycled materials.

Pet Service in Bellerby Blesses Pets Past and Present

A recent outdoor pet service in Bellerby gave people the opportunity to celebrate and pray for their pets, past and present. The service was held in Bellerby Village Community Garden, which is next to several local farms.

The Cathedrals Cycle Route Relay Returns with Local Yorkshire Route

This summer, local cyclists will be invited to make a pedal pilgrimage from either Ripon Cathedral to Bradford Cathedral, or Bradford Cathedral to Wakefield Cathedral, as part of this year’s national ‘Cathedrals Cycle Route’. The Cathedrals Cycle Route is a unique partnership between the Association of English Cathedrals and Cycling UK, with the support of Sustrans, the British Pilgrimage Trust and Northumbria University.

Double Bronze Award for the Wiske Benefice

St. Mary’s in Appleton Wiske achieved the bronze Eco-church award in 2021, and St. Eloy’s in Great Smeaton followed in 2023. Both churches scored highly in their ‘Worship’ and ‘Land’ sections, and both appreciated the process of finding out and recognising how much they are already doing. Small but dedicated teams from both churches are committed to advancing the cause.

Taking a stand at the Big One

Parishioners from around the diocese joined thousands from cross the country at the Big One in London, a mass rally calling on the government to stop any new exploration of fossil fuels. 1400 people attended a service and then walked to Parliament Square, where they lay down for a protest “die in”.

Time for the EFT?

Since 2019 the Church of England has been collecting data on the carbon emissions of its churches, schools, cathedrals and other buildings. Each year each churches’ Parish Returns Officer is asked to enter the energy bills and mileage claims for the church into the EFT (Energy Footprinting Tool) and a Carbon Footprint Report is created for the PCC and annual church report. The deadline for completion is 31 July. Is your church up to date on this?

Tearfund Warns of Flood Risk from Plastic for 'More than 200 Million'

A recent Tearfund report warns that plastic waste can block drains and waterways at a time when more intense rainfall is occurring due to climate change. They estimate that more than 200 million of the world’s poorest people are at risk of devastating flooding which can bring risk of cholera and other water borne diseases.

Fossil-fuel Companies Should Invest Profits in Combating Climate Change, say Survey Respondents

A new survey from Christian Aid, suggests that most UK adults believe it is wrong for oil and gas companies to make record profits without simultaneously taking steps to combat climate change.

Events and Webinars - Local

3 - 11 Jun Churches Count on Nature

Who’s living in your churchyard? This annual nature fest is an opportunity to invite the community into your grounds, slow down and look at God’s creation on your doorstep. Churches Count on Nature week is Saturday 3rd - Sunday 11th June. Suitable for any size of churchyard.