Eco-friendly church is going for gold
A BARNSLEY church which has been awarded bronze Eco Church status is going for silver and gold.
Hoyland and Birdwell
Methodist Church, on Sheffield Road, Birdwell, started its eco-friendly journey in March, committing to tackling climate change and receiving the Eco Church accreditation through environmental action group A Rocha UK.
Various measures were put in place including changing to eco-friendly cleaning products, making its land wildlife friendly and looking at its insulation, thermal efficiency and energy use.
Community link worker Peter White said: “We also looked at our individual behaviour. What we could do as individuals to lower our personal carbon footprint. To help with this we share a top tip every week with all sorts of ideas.”
The church is also in the process of launching a clothing bank to stop items being sent to landfill and this will be open to the whole Birdwell community.
A walking club is also being set up which will incorporate litter picking to make a positive environmental impact.
The church also supports the local community fridge which stops food going to landfill and educates the chapel and its congregants about climate change.
“We recently has a speaker from A Rocha UK’s Eco Church programme and she spoke about climate issues and how we can have a positive impact on reducing carbon impact,” said Peter. “It’s not just changing our energy use. It’s lots of little steps.
“Part of being a church is caring for God’s world – it’s central to our views – and in the past it’s sometimes been shoved to the back of the shelf. It’s a big driver now for all churches to go in that direction.
“It’s an ongoing thing – we have got the bronze award, and we’re heading towards silver and gold.”
The church will also be focussing on its outdoor space and is hoping to introduce a bug hotel, bird boxes and wildflower meadows as well as creating Incredible Edible herb gardens for the Birdwell community to go along and use.
“We have had a really positive response from the congregation. We are in a climate crisis and sometimes we might think what can I do as an individual to make a difference but we can have a huge impact when everyone starts to do it, whether that’s turning the washing machine down or car sharing,” said Peter.
“We really can make a difference if we work together.”
Hoyland and Birdwell Methodist Church has been shortlisted in the new Green
Hero category in the Proud of Barnsley awards.