Eco Church at St Leonard's, Dinnington
At St Leonard's, we show that we care about God’s creation by raising awareness of environmental matters and encouraging eco-friendly practices in our church community and in the wider community of our parish.
We participate in A Rocha UK’s award scheme called Eco Church to demonstrate that the gospel is good news for God’s earth. Our activities enabled us to receive the Bronze Award in 2019 and the Silver Award in 2022.
The Eco Group meets monthly to decide how to care for the environment and what to do next. Everyone is welcome to be involved so if you would like to know more please contact the church for a chat.
We participate in A Rocha UK’s award scheme called Eco Church to demonstrate that the gospel is good news for God’s earth. Our activities enabled us to receive the Bronze Award in 2019 and the Silver Award in 2022.
The Eco Group meets monthly to decide how to care for the environment and what to do next. Everyone is welcome to be involved so if you would like to know more please contact the church for a chat.
Worship and Teaching
As a church community, St Leonard's prays for the climate crisis and environmental matters regularly during the Sunday service intercessions.
The Eco Group writes an article each month for the parish magazine. These have covered a variety of topics ranging from tips on sowing seeds, the Earthshot prizes, supporting young people with climate change, how food choices impact our carbon footprint, and re-generating our peat bogs. We like to keep people informed so that they know why their actions can make a difference.
Buildings
Our electricity and gas are supplied on a ‘green tariff’ and we have bought and fitted LED bulbs throughout the main church and the church office to become more energy-efficient. We are mindful of our disposable usage by purchasing biodegradable cups for the Chocolate Club and we recycle them.
We are always working towards reducing our paper usage. Audio screens were introduced in church in early 2021 and this dramatically reduced our paper usage and printing, as well as savings on electricity and ink. All PCC and Eco Church papers are sent electronically and we have the option to receive electronic versions of the parish magazine and weekly newsletters.
We are always working towards reducing our paper usage. Audio screens were introduced in church in early 2021 and this dramatically reduced our paper usage and printing, as well as savings on electricity and ink. All PCC and Eco Church papers are sent electronically and we have the option to receive electronic versions of the parish magazine and weekly newsletters.
Land
We have placed stocked bird feeders and fat balls in our churchyard as well as a wildlife bath for visiting birds, mammals and insects.
We have introduced piles of logs and branches up against the boundary to provide habitat for hedgehogs and invertebrates sheltering in the cold months
We have introduced piles of logs and branches up against the boundary to provide habitat for hedgehogs and invertebrates sheltering in the cold months
A team of workers met for two mornings to tidy and prepare a flower bed to attract bees and butterflies by planting rosemary, oregano, marjoram, blue and pink geranium, toadflax, verbascum, marguerite and hebe.
We are taking care to prune shrubs such as cotoneaster, choisya and ivy around the flowering and berry seasons to benefit the birds and nectar feeders.
We are learning to manage weeds in the churchyard paths as environmentally as we can by hand weeding, aiming to avoid the use of weed killers in the churchyard.
We are taking care to prune shrubs such as cotoneaster, choisya and ivy around the flowering and berry seasons to benefit the birds and nectar feeders.
We are learning to manage weeds in the churchyard paths as environmentally as we can by hand weeding, aiming to avoid the use of weed killers in the churchyard.
Community and Global Engagement
The Eco Group at St Leonard's has formed links with other churches in the area, and we have already started to share ideas and resources. We have plans to build on this in the near future.
We are a community group supporting Rotherham Climate Action, which is a locally based group supported by Friends of the Earth. We have attended their online events which have encouraged us to take steps to combat climate change and informed us of nature recovery in Rotherham.
We are a community group supporting Rotherham Climate Action, which is a locally based group supported by Friends of the Earth. We have attended their online events which have encouraged us to take steps to combat climate change and informed us of nature recovery in Rotherham.
Lifestyle
One way we raise awareness of environmental matters is by designing posters with thoughtful messages and tips about helping our climate.
We organised a recycling event after the church service one Sunday morning where people were encouraged to bring and swap scarves and handbags - this was very well received and good fun.
We organised a recycling event after the church service one Sunday morning where people were encouraged to bring and swap scarves and handbags - this was very well received and good fun.
In 2021 we introduced a weekly eco tip in our newsletters covering many topics including Reduce-Reuse-Recycle, caring for wildlife in the winter, reducing our carbon footprint, reducing food waste and how to have an eco-Christmas.
