Jen Denniston, Curate in the Worcestershire West Rural Team explains how their sustainable flower group has helped Harpley Church achieve Silver Eco Church status:
They say that every little helps.and theSustainable Church Flower group know this when it comes to being Eco friendly.They are particularly aware of the environmental concerns around importedflowers, and floral foam.Their focus ison sustainable flowers and flower arranging.
During the last few months, this localgroup of flower arrangers and gardeners, along with the ChurchwardenatHarpley, Lower Sapey (part of the Worcestershire West Rural Team) have beenputting eco matters firmly on the map in the Diocese and beyond. Somuch so that Harpley, has just been awarded Silver Eco Church status in the ARocha scheme. Its the second of only two silver churches in our diocese. They are now working towards gold.
The Sustainable Church Flower group is keen to sharewhat they have discovered with other flower arrangers and PCCs. Their first aim is toencourage the fazing out of floral foam, that green plastic-based block that isso loved by floral decorators, instead using sustainable methods inflower arrangements that dont harm the environment. These include vases withchicken wire, pebbles, sturdy twigs, scrunched newspaper
Those green bricks lurking in the vestrycupboard, loved and much used by flower arrangers everywhere, are so handy, soeasy to use. But unfortunately they are also environmentally unfriendly, becausetheyre made of micro plastic. Each block contains about the same amount ofplastic as 10-20 plastic bags. They are often used only once, and thrown ontothe compost heap. But they dont break down their constituent parts areplastic. The green bits in the vase water are non bio-degradable plastic. Whenthe water from the flower arrangement goes down the plug, or is emptied intothe church yard, it runs into the water courses.
The groups second aim is to use locally sourced,seasonal flowers and greenery in flower arrangements. This can be done intandem with thoughtful planting in and around churchyards, which increaseslocal bio-diversity. Meanwhile, air-miles and transport costs and carbon footprint are all reduced.
Being eco-friendly and sustainable is inline with the Church of Englands fifth Mark of Mission, which aims to strive to safeguard the integrity of creation andsustain and renew the life of the earth.
Christiansare to steward the gifts of God and care for his creation. Talk of climatechange, drought, unseasonal weather, air miles, food miles, all provoke aresponse of some kind. Despair, anger, prayer or letters to the editor. And theyprovoke physical action too. Up and down the country, cathedrals, monasteries,and ordinary rural and urban churches are, like Harpley, taking positiveactions towards protecting and safeguarding creation.
In many diverse places, people are activelyengaging with environmental concerns at various levels.They are taking on board Archbishop Justins message, thatreducing the causes of climate change is essentialto the life of faith. It is a way to love our neighbour and to steward the giftof creation. In order to live in harmony with the Earth on a genuinelysustainable basis, we need to respond in ways that we can.
Sometimespeople may feel they are taking only very small steps and only locally, butlove for the planet and care of creation can begin at home and in our localchurches. Church communities are focusing on areas suchas teachingabout caring for Gods earth in worship, conservation of churches and their land,using Fairtrade items, recycling, toilet twinning, and reducing pollutionthrough car-share schemes or walking. All these are great initiatives, andputting into practice the Churchs mission.
TheSustainable Church Flower group is actively playing its part in a broad andjoined up approach to environmental issues, and backs the Church of Englandsview that responding to climate change is an essential part of ourresponsibility to safeguard God's creation.
If you want to getyour church thinking on a practical, spiritual and missional level about theenvironment, why not do what Harpley and many other churches have done? Takethe national Eco Church award survey on the Ecochurch website. Eco Church isaccessible and easy to use, and challenges churches to consider areas you maynever have thought of before, that have an impact on the environment. Take thesurvey, find out how environmentally friendly your church is you could,achieve a Bronze, a Silver, or even a Gold!
Jen Denniston
The SustainableChurch Flower groups next event is an Easter Foam Free Pedestal Workshop, StPeters, Martley, 14 March 10am - midday. Email Kate@camomilecornflowers.co.uk for more details andto book your place.
