Spring update

Lots has been happening over the last few months, but I've not found time to update the blog. One of the highlights was last December's demonstration in London during COP28 - here are Liz and Rosemary outside the BP offices. 

We also had a very constructive meeting with our MP, Matt Rodda, discussing a range of environmental concerns. But disappointingly he still won't commit to supporting the bill recently brought back to parliament as the Climate and Nature Bill.

Closer to home, we are still working on plans for solar panels for the school that shares our premises - a far longer process than we were expecting with our very cautious diocesan schools board! And have begun looking into an air source heat pump to replace the elderly boilers. Rosemary and I had a useful conversation with one of the teachers about eco-activities in school but teachers are so busy we are trying to find ways to support them that are not going to take up any more teacher time. In January several of us took part in the RSPB's Great Big Garden Birdwatch. At the beginning of March we shared a short David Attenborough film after the service and explained current plans for trying to get to net zero in our church and the wider diocese as well as encouraging more action at home.

January's Forest Church included making rather delicious looking seed muffins to feed the birds with (the one on the right is for human consumption); February was very wet but some great den-building went on, and March was in glorious sunshine in the Harris Gardens, perfect for the cherry blossom season.

A couple of weeks ago a working party enjoyed the sunshine and marked Earth Hour a few hours early clearing all the weeds from the forecourt and doing lots of tidying and planting in the borders. Through Lent we've been drawing attention to Climate Stewards' Carbon Fast, and a number of the congregation joined in Greenpeace's Plastic Count. I've just taken down the notices for those and replaced them with posters encouraging more planting for wildlife:

Meanwhile the courtyard garden is looking rather lovely, and we have had quite a few visits from a pair of mallards, so are hoping for more ducklings this summer.