Holy Trinity holds the Eco Church Silver Award. To learn more about A Rocha’s Eco Church, its focus on how we care for Creation in our worship and teaching; in how we look after our buildings and land; in how we engage with our local community and the wider world, and in the personal lifestyles of our congregation, go to: https://ecochurch.arocha.org.uk/
The Eco Team have put together a list of interesting webinars on environmental issues from various sources, including the Church of England and the Oxford Martin School (part of Oxford University) – see below. Some are on church issues and others are of more general interest.
Events
Hedgehog First Aid Course
Saturday 17th May
First Aid, Care & Rehabilitation of hedgehogs will be held at Ewert House, Summertown, Oxford OX2 7SG, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Learn how to help injured and malnourished hedgehogs under the guidance of Vale Animal Hospital experts. Book here £80 for a full day of training and course materials.
Day Conference: Seeking the Kingdom alongside our Global Partners
Saturday 17th May 10 a.m.-3p.m.
Each will speak about how their area is affected by the climate and environmental crises and what they are doing to respond. They’ll also be running a workshop on how we as churches can join together for action.
NB Conscious of the carbon footprint of flights, our international partners travel sparingly, but nothing builds relationships quite like being in each others’ countries, and seeing what each others’ lives are like. When the world is polarizing and fragmenting, it is important to build unity and think how we can work together across boundaries.
The day will include worship from each country, a final service with Bishop Mary preaching, a lunch with both sandwiches and dishes contributed by the different link groups, stalls from mission agencies, and panels on nurturing disciples and seeking justice. And it’s all free
Venue: St John & St Stephen’s Church, 121-147 Orts Road Reading RG1 3JN.
For list of speakers and to register: Sharing the journey: Seeking the kingdom alongside our global partners Tickets, Sat, May 17, 2025 at 10:00 AM | Eventbrite
Right Here, Right Now: Global Climate Summit
2–8 June 2025
https://www.ox.ac.uk/news-and-events/right-here-right-now
The cornerstone of the summit is a hybrid global event on World Environment Day, 5 June 2025, part hosted by Oxford University at the Sheldonian Theatre.
We will bring together leading thinkers and practitioners at the intersection of climate change and human rights for a 24-hour global academic plenary, which will be broadcast live across time zones. Co-created and co-delivered by universities across the world, the plenary will follow the sun as we pass the baton between different regions.
Using a hub model and hybrid delivery, we aim to convene a global conversation whilst reducing the air travel usually associated with international conferences.
Great Big Green Week 2025
7th-15th June
www.greatbiggreenweek.com
Lye Valley Children’s Event
Saturday 14th June
Bullingdon Community Centre, OX3 7HS, organised by Churches Together in Headington for children and their carers. There will be a number of craft and activity tables (materials and instructions provided), refreshments and a guided walk along the valley. If you would like to be involved either helping on an activity table or with hospitality, contact Joan Jones joan@joneses.org.uk 077106 61 12 50.
Act Now, Change Forever: Mass Lobby of Parliament for climate and nature
Wednesday 9 July 2025
https://www.theclimatecoalition.org/act-now-change-forever
On Wednesday 9th July 2025, thousands of people from every corner of the UK will come to Westminster to tell our MPs: this is a moment for leadership that protects what matters most — our health, our nature, our communities, our climate, and our future.
We’re asking MPs to back bold, practical action by committing to:
1. Deliver vital funding to communities hit hardest by climate change here and around the world
2. Cut bills, back UK jobs, and secure a greener fairer future for all
3. Restore nature to create a safer, healthier future
Webinars
Oxford Diocese Eco Group, Greenshoots meeting on Teams
Monday 12th May 7-8 p.m
Registration is now here,
At this meeting, rather than have an invited speaker, the focus will be on discussion; bring any news, queries or ideas you’d like to share with others. Perhaps about plans or questions regarding Churches Count on Natureand/or Great Big Green Week events or activities for 7th-15th June.
You’ll be emailed a link to join at the time (7p.m. Monday 12th May). Installing the free Teams software is not necessary on a laptop/computer and you can choose to open the joining link in a web browser at the meeting time. NB Using the joining link via a browser doesn’t work on mobile phones (as you wouldn’t have the ability to turn your camera and microphone on and off); the Teams software is needed for those.
Churches Count on Nature webinar programme for 2025
9th-13th June
Find out more details and register to attend the webinars here (please note you need to register for each webinar individually).
Past webinars which are available to watch again
For links to the range of C of E Net Zero Carbon webinars, and environmental fundraising go to: https://www.churchofengland.org/about/environment-and-climate-change/webinars-getting-net-zero-carbon#na
360º carbon
Recording of the April talk to Oxford Diocese’s Greenshoots Network by Adrian Frost of Climate Stewards, demonstrating the 360º Carbon Tool to measure church carbon footprints (which is compatible with the Energy Footprint Tool) and introducing some of their offsetting projects. Useful for those involved in heating matters/ upgrading the electricity supply to 3-phase This recording on 360o Carbon is now on our EcoHub.
To view or read the transcript, go to: https://vimeo.com/1074247684/40ada780c0
Oxford Diocese Eco Hub
This describes itself as ’a one-stop shop for information, practical advice and theological reflection on how we can best care for God’s creation.’ It brings together resources from various organisations and groups, enabling us to find information to become agents of change.
Parish Buying Scheme
For clean electricity, and much more besides at competitive prices (including LED lighting, photocopiers, phones and broadband, insurance, office products, church supplies, furniture, fire safety, audio visual, and even Covid-19 supplies).
Not the end of the world: how we can be the first generation to build a sustainable planet
Joint event with the Oxford Martin Programme on the Future of Food
Professor Sir Charles Godfray & Dr Hannah Ritchie
We are bombarded by doomsday headlines that tell us the soil won’t be able to support crops, fish will vanish from our oceans, that we should reconsider having children. But in this talk, data scientist Hannah Ritchie, author of Not the End of the World: How We Can Be the First Generation to Build a Sustainable Planet will discuss with Professor Sir Charles Godfray, Director of the Oxford Martin School, that if we zoom out, a very different picture emerges. They will discuss how the data shows we have made so much progress on these problems, and so fast, that we could be on track to achieve true sustainability for the first time in history and we can build a better future for everyone.
To watch the recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTdT1uKx_VA
Church of England on Church Heating: Guidance and Case Studies
This includes: Heating principles, Perspectives and Approaches; Decarbonising and the Future of Heat; Heating Pitfalls; Options; Appraisals; Getting Advice; Costs and Funding.
https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/churchcare/advice-and-guidance-church-buildings/heating#na
If you missed previous Church of England webinars, you can find a huge range of recordings, sorted into a number of playlists. To skip the ads click the button which appears after a few seconds towards the bottom of the screen, on the right.
Environmental fundraising playlist
Net Zero Carbon Schools playlist
Creationtide: 1 September – 4 October
Other online information
Oxford Diocese Eco Hub
This describes itself as ’a one-stop shop for information, practical advice and theological reflection on how we can best care for God’s creation.’ It brings together resources from various organisations and groups, enabling us to find information to become agents of change. See: https://www.oxford.anglican.org/xdb/ecohub
Creation Care Stories from Churches in our Diocese
Keep scrolling down and you’ll find mention of HTHQ.
https://www.oxford.anglican.org/news/stories-of-churches-schools-and-eco-champions-acting-for-creation.php
Parish Buying Scheme
For clean electricity, and much more besides at competitive prices (including LED lighting, photocopiers, phones and broadband, insurance, office products, church supplies, furniture, fire safety, and even audio visual), go to https://parishbuying.org.uk/
Caring for God’s Acre
https://www.caringforgodsacre.org.uk/
Information on exploring and caring for churchyards and burial grounds.
Can peatlands save the planet?
https://www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happening/news/peatlands?utm_source=notes_on_nature_20240622&utm_medium=email&utm_term=notes_on_nature&utm_content=21&utm_campaign=notes_on_nature
Sustainable Washing and Drying of Laundry
https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/cut-your-laundry-costs-by-144-this-year-an6GD2M0Hgnn?utm_source=ExactTarget&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=4446587-SUS_EM__20240616&mi_u=218814701&mi_ecmp=SUS_EM__20240616
BBOWT Community Toolkit
https://www.bbowtcommunitytoolkit.org/forum/resource
A very well curated collection of resources by the Bucks, Berks and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust: Species guides, habitat management, hedgerows, useful organisations, wildlife activities, documents for managing groups.
Oxfordshire County Council
Oxfordshire County Council fund to help households become more energy efficient: https://www.welcomethewarmth.org.uk/apply-now. Check eligibility. Applications close 24th October 2024
Nextdoor Nature Hub
https://nextdoornaturehub.org.uk
Help nature in your neighbourhood
Friends of Lye Valley
https://www.friendsoflyevalley.org.uk/
Shotover Preservation Society
http://www.shotoverpreservation.uk/
National Trust
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/
Preservation of our heritage in terms of our buildings and our natural environment
Oxford Friends of the Earth
https://www.oxfoe.co.uk/