01 Eco Church

Eco Church Resources

This is where we will share resources we think would be useful to living a more eco-friendly, Christian life. 

If you are interested in finding out more we would recommend these websites in particular:
A Rocha
Operation Noah
and also 
Christian Aid 
Tearfund 
and the Church of England's website HERE.

 

Shared Resource Library

Eco Church smlThe Climate and Ecology Bill - May 2022

Zero Hour is the campaign for the Climate and Ecology Bill (formerly the CEE Bill) – a plan for a new UK law that addresses the full extent of the climate and nature crisis in line with the most up-to-date science. The Bill is the only proposed legislation before the UK Parliament that ensures a comprehensive and joined-up approach to the emergency.  For more information click HERE

HERE is a link to the executive summary
 
 
Eco Church sml IPCC Report
"It's now or never, if we want to limit global warming to 1.5°C". The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)’s latest Working Group lll Sixth Assessment Report, Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change, states that the window to stop even more dangerous climate change is closing, but solutions to slash emissions in the next decade are here now.

Read more HERE to see what can be done to stop emissions rising.
 
 
Eco Church sml How to create a wildflower meadow

Creating a mini-meadow is one of the easiest thing you can do to promote wildlife in your garden. More and more people now understand the importance of helping nature when and where they can and one of the best things you can do is to convert an area of lawn into perennial meadow.

Step 1 - Do nothing until late July!
Step 2 - Strim down to ground level during a dry spell.
Step 3 - Allow cuttings to dry on ground for a few days; this lets any remaining seed fall out.
Step 4 - Rake up and remove cuttings and compost; this is the most important part as it reduces the fertility of the soil allowing finer grasses and the rarer plants to gain a foot hold.
Step 5 - Using a lawn mower carryout a follow up cut to take the meadow area down to ground level; repeat, if necessary, a few times into autumn.

It's good idea is to mow a one mower wide “neat strip” around the meadow area or alongside a path or verge every couple of weeks to keep the edges tidy; this not only prevents growth falling out onto a non-meadow area but also creates the appearance of intention rather than laziness! 

It won’t look amazing immediately; however, after a few years, with some attention paid to invasive plants, your lawn will slowly turn into your very own native, regionally appropriate, mini-meadow. A nutrient poor, species rich, perennial habitat that requires far less effort to maintain and is also immeasurably better for the environment than a once-a-week cut garden lawn; you may even be graced by the sudden appearance of native orchids giving you considerable bragging rights! 

Let us know how you get on - you could send us some before and after photos!
 
 
Eco ChurchOur Environmental Policy 

is HERE 
 
 
Eco Church sml IPCC Report

On 9 August, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its long-awaited report which showed that the world has the rest of this decade to cut carbon emissions in half if it hopes to limit warming to 1.5C and thus avoid the most dangerous impacts of the climate crisis. This latest IPCC report also made it clear that the human contribution to our changing climate is now ‘unequivocal’ – the strongest language the IPCC has ever used.

Find out more HERE
 
 
Eco Church smlSouthwark Diocese Environmental Policy 

Diocesan Envt policy front pag

Please click HERE to take a look 

 
Eco Church Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill

Find out more HERE and read an Executive Summary HERE 
 
Eco Church  The Dasgupta Review

The summary of a report published in February 2021 which looks at the economic case for bio-diversity.


Eco Church  Ian Christie sermon


It was great to hear Ian Christie speak at the end of February.  Ian is a Diocesan Environmental Advisor and Senior Lecturer in Social Science of Sustainable Development at the University of Surrey.  Find his sermon text HERE and a longer slide presentation HERE.  To watch the service Ian spoke in click HERE.  (Ian starts at about 7.55 minutes)

He has promised to visit St Matthew's when such things are possible and we look forward to hearing from him again before too long.  


Eco Church  David Attenborough's documentary series 'Perfect Planet'

Episode Five deals with the impact of humans on the planet - it is by turns alarming and hope-filled.  Find it HERE (provided you have a TV licence!)
 
Eco Church   St Matthews Lent Challenge - 40 Ways to Spring Clean Your Life 

During Lent, you are encouraged to take part in our '40 Ways to Spring Clean your Life'.
We will ask for some feedback in due course to help us assess whether this has helped all of us make a difference.

(The Challenges ends at Easter but the ideas it covers are useful tips to Spring Clean your life at any time)


If you would like to offer to help with our Eco Church initiative in any way please get in touch with Jen Houghton.