RECTOR: Rev’d Nicola Grieves
Last week we shared some of the suggestions from the UN Guide on how individuals can help to restore ecosystems. Here’s more of them: Spread the word by hosting sustainable cook-offs and share tips to reduce domestic food waste. Collect kitchen waste to use as...
Risby Gold Eco Church looks lovely in the warm sunshine. This important habitat in the centre of the village is a haven for insects and wildlife and is carefully managed by the church PCC and our Eco Officer, Jackie. Numerous wildflowers grow amidst the variety of...
The process of reviving natural spaces is called ecosystem restoration, and it has never been more urgent. The UN have provided a practical guide on how governments to individuals can make a difference. Here’s some of them: Buy local to support local farmers to reduce...
The UN have produced a Practical Guide to reviving natural spaces – also known as ecosystem restoration. The guide is designed to get everyone involved in restoring land, halting desertification and building drought resilience - which threaten to destroy our homes and...
We are delighted to announce that Risby Church has been awarded the Gold Award for Eco Church! This is an amazing feat and is the result of months of sheer hard work and commitment by all the PCC who are fully supportive of this initiative, as well as our ‘Eco...
On the 1st of May the Courageous Advocates after-school club from Barrow CEVC Primary spent the afternoon creating a butterfly-shaped pollinator-friendly garden in the churchyard of Barrow Church. This was the end result of months of research, planning, fundraising...
Record your swifts - SOSS are requesting we let the Suffolk Biodiversity Information Service know where swifts are nesting, where we have put up boxes, and where screaming parties at roof level are taking place. Go to https://www.suffolkbis.org.uk/record/swift20171 It...
By leaving areas of the churchyard uncut we find all kinds of beautiful flowers and grasses thriving – offering rich habitat for wildlife and essential pollen for our bees, butterflies and other insects.[dsm_masonry_gallery gallery_ids="7155,7158,7156,7153,7157,7154"...
According to Save Our Suffolk Swifts, over the last 25 years swifts have declined by over 50%. SOS Swifts (a joint project between Suffolk Wildlife Trust and Suffolk Bird Group) have set a five-point plan to protect swifts: Save traditional nesting spaces Put up boxes...
Over the next month, you are likely to see and hear swifts returning to the UK to breed over the summer. They are on the red list; suffering decline – 50% reduction in just 25 years, according to the Suffolk Wildlife Trust. Our eco churches are supporting Save Our...
According to the RSPB: 526,615 people in England took part in the Birdwatch this year, spotting a phenomenal 8,157,615 birds. Top 10 for 2024 Top bird House Sparrow Blue Tit The Woodpigeon Starling Blackbird Robin Great Tit Goldfinch Magpie Long tailed Tit Our actions...
120 children from Barrow school spent an exciting and educational day recently discovering wildlife in the churchyard at Barrow Church and learned all about hedgehogs too! The day was led by Joanne Atkins from Suffolk Wildlife Trust and Lynda Brignall from the...
How we can help bats: Plant night-scented flowers, such as Evening Primrose and Honeysuckle - these will attract moths and in turn bats. Provide drinking water. Many bat are especially drawn to ponds, not just for the water but to snack on mosquitos. Reduce or remove...
Did you know that many plants depend on bats to pollinate their flowers or spread their seeds? Bats play an im-portant role in the ecosystem and in protecting our environ-ment. According to the Wildlife Aid Foundation, the use of pesticides, intense farming, and...
An innovative project will be using Artificial Intelligence for the first time to track hedgehog populations. The aim is to understand how many of them are left in the UK and why their numbers are declining. The three-year project is in partnership with Nottingham...
Did you know that since 1900, 80% of the UK’s small or-chards have been lost? A UK genetics project is searching for lost apple varieties to protect fruit in the climate crisis. By sequencing the genetics of trees in ancient orchards, it is hoped they hold traits that...
“Earth Hour is a moment of unity that brings the world together, shines a spotlight on na-ture loss and the climate crisis, and inspires millions more to act and advocate for urgent change. Each year, we work together to turn a single Earth Hour into thousands and...
Last week we established that creating a meadow is hard work. But in the long run its less work than maintaining a lawn. And remember, you could go for a simple meadow-like patch. So, what about those rewards? Well, once a meadow is planted and thriving, it will need...
This week in our meadowscaping series, we will turn to how to turn your grass mono-culture into a meadow. A meadow offers many rewards, but bear in mind it is hard work initially. Turning grass into a meadow isn’t a case of simply adding wildflowers to a lawn. It...
Like the sound of a meadow or just replacing a small area of your lawn with wildflowers and native grasses? Then you may be interested in Eco church’s latest topic – meadowscaping. Meadowscaping involves exchanging a monoculture of turfgrass for a variety of native...