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We were commended for:
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The outstanding woodland project in our Churchyard, which is
a major ecological initiative developed from the commitment
of the church and by working with and through the Sefton Coast
and Countryside Management scheme of Sefton Council.
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The enthusiasm and commitment of the Woodland Team
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The communications of the churches environmental ministry through
the Church Magazine, display material which is available to
other churches and the press.
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Church life which is in keeping with the woodland setting ,
for example the holding of occasional outdoor services.
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The sense that the ministry of the church is influencing members’
personal lifestyle.
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The wider work in the parish exemplified by the church-led clean-up
of a local litter-strewn grot-spot.
Our challenge has been
to strengthen a much broader perspective of environmental care
within our congregation.
Meeting the Challenge.
We
have certainly not stood still since we received the award. Things
have moved forward and changes have taken place.
We record, with sadness, the loss of five of our woodland helpers
– Ken Parks, Bill McCoy, Patrick Ferguson, Barbara Waplington,
and Julian Houghton. These were really front-line workers and
we miss their physical presence, but we have reminders of their
enduring memory as we work in the woodland. We thank God for their
friendship, fellowship, and work with us.
We have cleared more ground for our replanting programme, which
has already started with six silver birch trees transplanted from
the Wildlife Trust’s dune heath site just south of Woodvale
Airfield in Freshfield. These will form a fitting tribute to our
departed helpers.
Our community
work has brought us into contact, through our friends at Mersey
Forest, with the National Wildflower Centre in Huyton. Two helpers,
Jean and Sarah (Patrick’s widow - we are so pleased to have
her with us) are growing woodland wildflowers in mini greenhouses
in their gardens and these will be used back at the centre and
in our own woodland here.
We are developing very close links with the environmental work
going on at Range High School, the secondary school in our parish.
The Head Teacher, Mrs. Miller is very supportive. Her husband
is a full time Ranger on the Wirral. We have worked with their
pupils before, in the lane alongside the school, doing a litter
pick. This work will, in turn, be part of another initiative with
our friends from Sefton Ranger Service, - the establishment of
a tree nursery on the farm next to the school. The farmer supports
a Countryside Stewardship Scheme on his land, sponsored by DEFRA.
So this valuable
work goes on. Our aim is to involve more of our congregation in
the future with this wonderful stewardship of God’s Creation. |
