Eco Church, August 2026

Eco Church

We have all seen the terrible devastation caused by the wildfires in France, Spain, Greece, Canada and our own country. Climate change is happening faster than scientists originally estimated and Europe is warming faster than any other continent. This is causing the droughts and extreme heatwaves we are experiencing at the moment, all driven by the overwhelming dependence on fossil fuels, be it for power; transport; holidays; or plastics and chemical fertiliser production. Another factor contributing to rising temperatures is our meat consumption, as cattle and sheep naturally produce greenhouse gases as part of their digestive system. While wars and wildfires are pumping vast amounts of carbon into the atmosphere it can seem pointless to even try and do anything ourselves, but every little we can do will have a positive effect. Please, if you are able, go to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Footprint Calculator and do the questionnaire www.footprint.wwf.org.uk This is something we have been doing at intervals for the last four years and gradually we have reduced the amount of carbon produced by our household down to 81% of the UK national average, at 6.5 tonnes per year: by reducing the quantity of meat we consume; reducing car usage by planning journeys to cover more than one objective; buying locally produced food and growing our own, as well as various other minor adjustments. It takes time and planning but it can be done. Please fill in the questionnaire and then use that as a basis for reducing your household carbon footprint. You will be making a difference.

Notices

Sunday 9^th August: Holy Communion, 10.30 in St Mary’s

Sunday 16^th August & 6^th September: Café Church in St Michael’s from 10 am with papers, coffee and croissants etc. The informal service starts at 10.30 am

Sunday 23^rd August: Holy Communion 10.30 in St Mary’s

Sunday 30^th August: Whole Benefice Holy Communion 10.30 in St Mary’s

Saturday 5^th September: Churchyard lichen survey