A Rocha is a Christian charity working for the protection and restoration of the natural world by motivating and equipping church communities to care for the environment.
(see their website [email protected])
St Mary’s Parish Church won a Bronze award on 26/07/2018
and the Silver award on 29/05/2019
NOW WE ARE GOING FOR GOLD
What Are We Doing?
IN CHURCH AND THE CHURCHYARDS-
- Holding special services focussing on creation and the environment.
- Had a Smart Meter fitted on 29/04/2022 to enable us to monitor our “Carbon Footprint”
(Following installation of low energy LED lighting on 17/07/2018)
- The churchyard has nesting boxes, bug houses and bat boxes to encourage God’s creatures.
- Wild areas are left to grow:-
- Grass/wildflower bank in front of the gate (snowdrops, bluebells, etc.)
- Fern and nettle area to the right of the “new” churchyard, through the gate.
- We have planted this year a new large wild flower garden behind the seat donated by the link lunch group designed to attract bees and butterflies (among others)
- We have left a large pile of rotting wood for Stag Beetles + a large “cage” of rotting leaves in the corner of the new churchyard.
- We have set up nature trails with a Christian theme in the churchyard for people to follow.
IN BENTLEY VCP SCHOOL:
- Put up bug boxes, bat boxes, nesting boxes and a hedgehog house in wooded areas of the school playground.
- Work with the school Eco Committee to explain Stag Beetle life cycle and our project (delivered a presentation at a school assembly)
- Work with the school Worship Committee to arrange special services including themes of creation/nature.
- Using the special Altar Cloth designed by the children for school services. This design includes the above themes of nature and creation.
IN THE BENTLEY VILLAGE COMMUNITY.
- The church has sponsored 7 trees in the recently planted Community Orchard at Applewood Acres.
- The Church provides grass cuttings to provide “mulch” for the Eco Business Applewood Acres (See their website [email protected]).
- Annually during May-July the church delivers via The Bugle a Stag Beetle sighting form to every household in Bentley. All sightings are recorded by villagers and school children and completed forms are left in a box at the village community shop. The results are sent to Colin Hawes who co-ordinates the Stag Beetle survey. This way we help to gather vital information on an important member of our Ecosystem.
