Jackie has always been interested in nature and wildlife. In the past she has volunteered on school educational projects with Suffolk Wildlife Trust, Risby village tree planting, making beetle bumps, weeding paths to avoid pesticide spraying and litter picking, a one-person campaign to call an end to the use of glyphosate by West Suffolk Council in public places and is Risby eco church environment officer.
In 2021, with the support of Revd Lynda Sebbage, Risby PCC and the community, Jackie led Risby church to the Bronze and Silver Eco church awards. From 2023 -2024 she designed and led the Risbee Line – along with 3 volunteers they surveyed Risby residents about the plants they grow throughout the year. The purpose was to encourage the community to support bees and other pollinators through the seasons. In 2024 Risby were award Gold.
Read the BBC News article:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crggvrxvl2mo
Jackie is a member of the Eco Church Support Group (along with Diane -Ekins, Mendham Gold) offering training to churches who want to apply for Bronze, Silver or Gold.
She writes for the benefice bi-monthly newsletter on environmental issues. She now volunteers for A Rocha UK as a gold award assessor and mentor in Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire.
In April 2023, West Suffolk Council took the decision to cease the use of glyphosate and other chemicals for the treatment of weeds or unwanted growth to promote better diversity. However, in 2024 they returned to using glyphosate around monuments, footpaths, playing surfaces and man made street structures, such as utility boxes and lamp posts, in grass areas – all public areas.
Jackie Orbell
Barrow Benefice ECO Church
RISBY ECO CHURCH ENVIRONMENT OFFICER
