After a concerted and sustained effort over the past 4 years, Woodnesborough Church has now achieved a SILVER Eco Church award. The overall aim of the Eco Church award scheme is to celebrate the ways that church communities have been engaging with caring for the earth as a key part of our Christian faith. The categories assessed in the survey for the award are Worship and Teaching, Buildings, Land, Community and Global Engagement and Lifestyle. We achieved a gold level in 1 category and silver in 4 categories.Some examples of what we are doing across our church:We have made an effort to identify, measure and reduce the Carbon Footprint of our church and changed to LED lighting inside the church.We hold several services outside with a focus on caring for God's earth and services relating to creation care.We try to reduce waste and recycle as much as possible, including repurposing plastic items.We have changed our banking to a provider having robust policies on climate and nature protection and not funding the fossil fuel industry.Across our church land we are encouraging bees and pollinators by:Planting of plants that attract insects such as lavender and other herbs, sowing of wildflower seeds and sunflower seeds as well as planting of bearing trees including fruit-bearing trees.Allowing the natural propagation of plants including nettles.Creating different areas of the churchyard to encourage insects.We aim to promote as much bio-diversity as possible. If you are passing please feel free to wander around the grounds to enjoy the calming atmosphere.To find out more about Eco Church please visit the Eco Church website ecochurch.arocha.org.uk/
