Creationtide is the annual event in the Church of England’s calendar to celebrate God’s creation and renew a promise to look after our planet.

Many churches hold special services to mark the event, which runs from September 1 to October 4.

In this series we are highlighting some of the ways people in the Diocese of Truro care for creation.

 

Blisland Church (St Protus and St Hyacinth) has been a Gold Eco Church for just over a year – thanks to the hard work of its church Creation Care Champion and team.

Logo reads 'Creation Care' and has a green, blue and red strip after the word 'care'.The journey to A Rocha UK’s Eco Church gold status started three years ago with the appointment of Ann Sutton as Creation Care Champion. She and her team have been making changes in and around the building to help the environment ever since.Green grass and yellow flowers in a church yard with Protus and St Hyacinth) in the background

They’ve encouraged wildflowers, installed bird, bat and hedgehog boxes, used outside solar lights and inside low LED lighting – just to mention a few things. They also have compost bins, water butts and a special children’s area.

Ann said: “We were very happy to get the gold award but the step between the silver, which we were awarded previously, and the gold award is quite a big one.

“We had a three-hour site visit and face-to-face interview. This was a little nerve-racking and we had to put in a lot of work and effort to attain the required level, but it was very good fun.”

Ann said working towards, and then maintaining, the gold award encouraged them to work with the congregation and the wider village community, as well as the numerous visitors to the church, to think about the environment both locally and globally.

Since receiving gold, their efforts to keep helping the environment continue as they watch their carbon footprint and keep up their Fairtrade status.

Ann said: “We have also started a scheme to try to persuade people to plant bulbs on their loved ones’ graves rather than putting faux flowers on them. We are hoping to be able to provide bulbs, if needed, in the future.”

Other plans in the pipeline include creating a small mammal and bumblebee wall, by incorporating old plant pots into the retaining wall between the old and new churchyard as it is rebuilt and creating a native hedge.

 

Ann’s Tips:

  • “The biggest tip would be don’t give up – even when it seems impossible to reach the targets.”
  • “Use the skills of people available – I am an environmental scientist so had some knowledge to work with, while others on the team have their talents. Katie has wonderful ideas, Pat is excellent at communications, Gerry and Nick can build anything you need and JJ the gravedigger lent a hand scooping out the bog garden and wildflower bed with his mini digger. And thank you to
  • A display board on a white table.our wonderful vicar, The Revd Robin Thwaites, who has been very supportive and enthusiastic despite having seven parishes to look after.”
  • “Explaining what you are doing helps enormously – We had a small exhibition in our village institute with photos of our progress and short explanations of what we were up to and wanted to achieve. We also have posters explaining our mowing policy on the church gate. Our notice board in the church porch displays our Fairtrade certification and of course our silver and gold certificate.”
  • “We try to take part in national campaigns like No Mow May, Plastic Free July, 30 Days Wild (Wildlife Trust) and The Great Big Green Week.”
  • “Expect some resistance and scepticism from a few people – only one or two.
  • Be flexible – change can be created by small shifts that lead people in the right direction. Lead by example rather than confrontation or strictly enforced rules.

 

Some of Blisland Church’s eco efforts:

  • Bog garden in a corner of the churchyard.
  • Mowing regime.
  • Bird feeding station.
  • Sells donated books and other items to encourage reuse and recycling.A wooden bug hotel with a number of segments with items in there such as twigs, against a brick wall
  • Donate to environmental charities including the World Land Trust, Cornwall Wildlife Trust, Ripple Effect, Barefoot College and others.
  • A wildlife table in the church explaining efforts and ongoing surveys of fauna and flora in the churchyard, as well as advice on going green.
  • Twinned churchyard with a garden scheme in Africa.
  • A children’s corner in church.
  • Running activities such as a bug hunt for the little ones.
  • Compost bins.
  • Bike racks.
  • Animal blessing service.
  • Encourage wildflowers.
  • Bird, bat and hedgehog boxes.
  • Outside solar lights.
  • Inside low LED lighting.