Creation Care - November 2024

Climate Action Working Group Update

The group have been meeting regularly and welcomed the Diocesan climate officer to a recent meeting to understand the Church of England Roadmap to net zero by 2030 and to link us with local and national opportunities. We were successful in securing 50% funding through a Quick Wins Application for LED lighting in the church hall. Several group members also attended the Diocesan Creation Care and Sustainable Buildings Day in October in Winchester to gain inspiration and to network with other churches. We have also had further conversations with other churches re solar panels.

ARocha UK (linked to our mission partner this term, ARocha Kenya) run the EcoChurch Awards which have recently been updated to include net zero transitions. We have previously achieved a Bronze Award but the group have been reviewing the different areas to guide our working towards the Silver award. This includes a land and nature section and following on from our nature count earlier in the year we have been looking at how we could increase biodiversity further and encourage people to encounter God through his creation in the churchyard. Other areas we review include buildings and energy, worship and teaching, community and global, and lifestyle.

COP29: 11th to 22nd November

The COP 29 conference this month sees 50,000 government officials, policymakers, investors and campaigners meet in Baku, Azerbaijan and will include an Anglican  delegation. Dubbed the 'Finance Conference' a key objective is to agree a new annual Climate Financing target to replace the $100bn target set in 2019 (and only met in full in one year in 2022). Likely areas for discussion include expanding the number of high income countries contributing, private investment, a possible Climate Finance Action Fund (with voluntary fossil fuel contributions) and climate taxes.

The Church of England have issued a Short Guide to UN Conferences 2024 which states 'The Anglican delegation wants their presence to bring a message of hope which comes from faith in God, and to encourage the negotiations to prioritise peace, to listen to the wisdom of indigenous communities, and to work for justice, in particular for climate finance.' They highlight the following prayer points:

1. Pray for a just transition to phase out fossil fuels and phase in renewable energy 

2. Pray for peacebuilding and reconciliation work to protect the planet 

3. Pray for the protection of indigenous land and the ways of living of indigenous people

4. Pray for full funding of action to reduce damage and inequality

Green Christian are running short prayer meetings at 8am each morning during the conference. Sign up via this link to join them on zoom Pray with us for COP29 – Green Christian

Take The Jump

If you are looking for fresh inspiration as to how to live more lightly and consume less and for a challenge to make a change to your behaviour consider taking the jump for 1, 3 or 6 months with Take the Jump. This is a grassroots movement to encourage small shifts by individuals in 6 different areas which together can impact on consumption and challenge our cultural norms. Six shifts help — Take the Jump

Dates for Your Diary

COP 29: 11th to 22nd November Pray with us for COP29 – Green Christian

Southampton Repair Café Repair Cafe (transitionsouthampton.org) 10.30-13.00 bring something to repair or just come for a cuppa, cash donations welcomed

16th December: St Deny’s Community Centre, Priory Road, SO17 2JZ

Get Involved

Please get in touch at creation@highfield.church if you would like to join the creation care working group or if you have any ideas, we would love to hear from you!

Creation Care - July 2024

Churches Count for Nature Tuesday 11 June 2024

A group from Highfield took part in the Churches Count for Nature, a national annual biodiversity survey promoted by Arocha UK, which encourages churches to explore and record the wildlife they find in their own churchyard. We spent a happy evening identifying and recording the species of plants and animals we found and have submitted these to the national database. We were delighted to find a total of 72 species; trees and shrubs, flowering plants, grasses, ferns, mosses, lichens and birds. See the end of this month’s blog for the entire list! This was an increase from the 57 species we identified two years ago. Although not a scientific survey, this may indicate that the reduced mowing schedule implemented in 2024 has already helped boost the biodiversity in our churchyard.

Impact of Travel on the environment

Transport accounts for a fifth of all global CO2 emissions, with passenger vehicles contributing to nearly half of that figure. Motorised transport, of all types, is heavily fossil-fuel dependent. Vehicle emissions contain carbon dioxide and monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulphur oxides, hydrocarbons, benzene and sooty particulates. Vehicle emissions and other contributors to air pollution (which include residential combustion and energy production, non-road transport, agriculture and industrial processes) result in 43,000 deaths per year, 6 million sick days per year and over 20,000 admissions to hospital per year with heart and lung conditions in the UK. Air pollution has been linked to cancer, asthma, stroke and heart disease, diabetes, obesity and dementia.

ARocha have some useful tips in You and your local travel about changes you could consider to your local travel including more walking and cycling. Regular exercise such as walking also has the benefit of being good for your health reducing the risk of many diseases. If you use a car read more in You and your car about how you can reduce the environmental impact as well as your costs with some simple changes. 

Walk to Church Sunday 21st July 2024

Sunday 21st July is our 'Walk to Church Sunday'. We are encouraging all of our congregations to consider walking or cycling to church if you are able to do so. If you usually travel to church by car then switching to walking or cycling will reduce the impact of your travel on the environment and the air pollution experienced by yourself and others. It also helps us to slow down and to reflect on God and his creation.

Dates for Your Diary

Highfield litter pick takes a break in August.

21st July Walk to Church Sunday (all services)

Southampton Repair Café Repair Cafe (transitionsouthampton.org)

20th July: St Deny’s Community Centre, Priory Road, SO17 2JZ

17th Aug: Immaculate Conception Church Hall, Portswood Road SO17 3SB

Get Involved

Please get in touch at creation@highfield.church if you would like to join the creation care working group or if you have any ideas, we would love to hear from you!

Count on Nature 2024 - Full list of identified species

Highfield Church, Southampton, small graveyard within a suburban area.

Trees and shrubs

Yew,  Taxus baccata

European Lime/Linden,   Tilia x europea

Rowan,  Sorbus aucupania

Holm oak,  Quercus ilex

English oak, Quercus robur

Bay

Holly, ilex aquifolium

Sycamore,  Acer pseudoplatanus

Silver birch,  Betula pendula

Ash,  Fraxinus excelsior

Eared sallow,  Salix aurita

Red cedar

Variegated holly

Cotoneaster franchetti

Ivy, Hedra helix

Deadly nightshade,  Atropa belladonna

Bramble,  Rubus fruticosus

Honeysuckle, Lonicera periclymenum

Cotoneaster horizontalis

Pyracantha

Philadelphus

Common laurel  22

Flowering plants

Daisy,  Bellis perennis

Black medick,  Medicago lupulina

Meadow buttercup,  Ranunculus acris

Red clover,  Trifolium pratense

Birdsfoot trefoil,  Lotus corniculatus

Meadow saxifrage, Saxifraga granulate, double flower

Common catsear, Hypochaeris radicata

Ribwort plantain,  Plantago lanceolata

Common mousear,  Cerastium fontanum

Self-heal,  Prunella vulgaris

Common sorrel,  Rumex acetosa

Common field speedwell,  Veronica persica

Wild strawberry,  Fragaria vesca

Hellebore,  Helleborus

Common sowthistle,  Sonchus oleraceus

Yarrow,  Achillea millefolium

Hawkweed,  Hieracium

Herb Robert,  Geranium robertium

Cyclamen

Oxe eyed daisy,  Chrysathemum leucanthemum

Lesser stitchwort,  Stellaria gramnea

Hairy bitter-cress, Cardamine hirsute

Stinking iris,  Iris foetidissima

Lesser Ragwort, Senecio jacobaea

Wall lettuce,  Lactuca muralis

Dandelion,  Taraxacum officinalis   

Rough Hawkbit,  Leontodon hispdus

Groundsel,  Senico vulgaris

Lesser knapweed,  Centaurea nigra

Germander speedwell,  Veronica persica

White clover, Trifolium repens

Lady’s bedstraw,  Galium verum   32

Grasses and sedges

Wild barley,  Hordeum murinium

Barley brome,  Bromus sterilis

Woodland meadow grass, Poa Nemoralis

Meadow grass,  Poa pratensis

Cocksfoot,  Dactylis glomerata

Meadow fescue,  Festuca pratensis

Yorkshire fog,  Holcus lanatus

Rye grass,  Lolium perenne   

Grey sedge,  Carex divulsa   9

Ferns, Mosses, Lichens, Fungus

Dryopteris felix-mas

Squirrel tail moss   

While lichen,  Lecanora dispersa   

Yellow lichen    4

Birds

Herring gull

Wood pidgeon

Blackbird

Blue tit

Gold crest   5

Total  72

Creation Care - May 2024

The climate action working group update

Church and school families have now fitted five bird boxes within the churchyard. A variety of sizes cater for different birds. There is a plan for some bug boxes to be created in the Autumn term by the school when natural materials are most available. Two signs have been erected to identify the churchyard as an area promoting a habitat for wildlife. We are participating in the Churches Count for Nature in June (see below).

Biodiversity

According to the State of Nature Report 2023 the UK is now one of the most nature depleted countries in the world having experienced significant loss of biodiversity. The report documents changes over the last 50 years. Big changes have been seen in where wildlife is found.

‘The main causes of these declines are clear, as are many ways in which we can reduce impacts and help struggling species. The evidence from the last 50 years shows that on land and in freshwater, significant and ongoing changes in the way we manage our land for agriculture, and the effects of climate change, are having the biggest impacts on our wildlife. At sea, and around our coasts, the main pressures on nature are unsustainable fishing, climate change and marine development.’

The report details projects which can help to reverse some of these changes. We can help by getting informed and sharing information with others, living more sustainably including in our food choices, supporting counts (such as the Churches Count for Nature) and supporting the work of conservation organisations. Here at Highfield Church we are seeking to support biodiversity in our churchyard as described above and with changes to our mowing pattern this year.

Churches Count for Nature Tuesday 11 June 2024

Churches Count for Nature is a national annual biodiversity survey promoted by Arocha UK, the Churches of England and Wales and Caring for God’s Acre. Across the country many churches are identifying the number of species they can find in their churchyards over 8-16th June and the results are collated on the National Biodiversity Network.

Highfield is participating and we are holding a count on Tuesday 11^th June starting at 7pm meeting outside the South Door. Paul Damant and Jackie Wakeling are leading this activity. Why not come along and help us discover the amazing range of living species in our churchyard (trees, plants, insects etc)?  Bring your phones or guide books to help identify species and ensure sensible footwear +/- waterproofs dependent on weather conditions! Please let us know you plan to attend via creation@highfield.church  to give us a rough idea of numbers expected.

Dates for Your Diary

Highfield litter pick continues on the first Saturday of each month at 4pm. Meet outside church. Litter picker tools provided.

1^st June 4pm 

6^th July 4pm

Southampton Repair Café Repair Cafe (transitionsouthampton.org)

15^th June: Immaculate Conception Church Hall, Portswood Road SO17 3SB

20^th July: St Deny’s Community Centre, Priory Road, SO17 2JZ

Churches Count for Nature Tuesday 11^th June 7pm

Get Involved

Please get in touch at creation@highfield.church if you would like to join the creation care working group or if you have any ideas, we would love to hear from you!

Creation Care - February 2024

The climate action working group update

We continue to work on getting quotes for solar panels for the church building. At long last the West Door has been fixed so it now closes properly to keep the heat in! We have been liaising with other churches and are delighted to see St Deny’s Church recognized by the Diocese for making positive changes and we are planning to visit for a tour. They write about their lessons learned and top tips here and tips on where to start when it feels overwhelming here.

Connecting with our Creator and God’s creation during Lent

Could Lent be a good time for you to connect with our Creator and His creation?

A reflection by Helen Hewitt on Isaiah 58:6-7 on the A Rocha UK website reminds us that God wants to see us worship by breaking chains of injustice and freeing the oppressed. ‘The effects of human efforts to subdue and exploit creation become clearer every day, and it is the poorest and most vulnerable who are worst impacted. We are called to care for creation and our neighbours. If we are to follow Jesus’ pattern of service, then continuing to use resources without regard for others simply isn’t an option. Decisions about what we eat, how we consume energy, how we travel and so on are vital to our discipleship! ‘

A Rocha have published some practical ideas to consider here. These include a variety of challenges including spending more time in nature, switching off digital, to making changes in your purchases including reducing single use plastic or switching banks. Why not have a look and see if you are inspired?

Climate Stewards have a detailed carbon footprint calculator to help you see which changes would be most effective or a quicker to use calculator is here which then encourages you to think which things you might be able to commit to change.

The Big Plastic Count 11- 17^th March

The Big Plastic Count recognizes the challenges we face as individuals trying to change our single plastic use in our current economy. It encourages individuals, schools and other organizations to count their single plastic use for 1 week in March and submit this information. Results are collated to inform government about the current usage and difficulties encountered to provide pressure for system change and you also receive a summary of your usage. Registration is very straightforward, and you can opt for a digital information pack here. Why not do this yourself or as a family or get an organisation you work for involved?

Dates for Your Diary

Southampton Repair Café Repair Cafe (transitionsouthampton.org) next dates:

20th April: Immaculate Conception Church Hall, Portswood Road SO17 3SB

16^th March: St Deny’s Community Centre, Priory Road, SO17 2JZ

11-17^th March: The Big Plastic Count (see above)

Get Involved

Please get in touch at creation@highfield.church if you would like to join the creation care working group or if you have any ideas, we would love to hear from you!

Creation Care - December 2023

COP 28: 30th November- 12th December 2023

COP 28 (Conference of Parties on Climate Change) is already underway, hosted by the United Arab Emirates. This includes discussions and presentations covering the impact of climate change on many aspects of people around the world and a final tense two days of negotiations to formulate the wording on what has been agreed.

The four important outcomes the church is hoping to see from COP are:

• Cutting emissions to limit the rise in global temperatures to 1.5^oC
• Making sure money is available to make the needed changes and to support countries already experiencing irreversible loss and damage
• Putting nature, people, lives and livelihoods at the heart of climate action
• Making sure everyone’s voices are heard

What can you do?

• Get Informed by reading more about COP28 here in the Church of England Guide to COP 28.
• Pray for the above outcomes. Access updates from Tearfund where you can also sign up for email and SMS prayer requests. Join Green Christian daily 8am prayers on zoom
• Write to your MP about phasing out fossil fuels and for commitment to the Loss and Damage Fund.
• Raise awareness through conversations with family and friends and through social media

A Greener Christmas

How can we be better at caring for creation through more sustainable choices this Christmas?

Barely believable Christmas facts for the UK per year include:

• Using 300,000 tonnes of card, enough to cover Big Ben 260,000 times
• Sending 114,000 tonnes – equivalent to 650,000 reindeer – of plastic packaging to landfill.
• Generating over three black bags of packaging each Christmas per average UK household
• Generating 230 000 tonnes of wasted food during the festive season.
• Spending £700m on unwanted gifts of which £42m are thrown away mostly to landfill and of which only 1% are still used at 6 months. (We spent £20.1bn in total on gifts in 2022)
• Discarding enough wrapping paper to wrap Guernsey last year (although this is a huge improvement from 2016 figures)

Unfortunately, a large proportion of wrapping paper cannot be recycled as it contains plastic (glitter or laminates). 1Kg of wrapping paper is responsible for more than 3Kg of CO2 emissions during the production process (including 1.3Kg through coal used to produce it). Consider alternatives such as reusable fabrics for wrapping, baskets or jars and alternative gifts of time or experiences.

What can you do?

• Get inspired by these top tips from A Rocha UK about ways we can make more sustainable choices this Christmas which could save energy and money including:
  • Collecting natural materials for decorations
  • Reusing cards and wrapping
  • Home-made gifts
  • Gifts of time and hospitality
  • Replacing old lights with LED lights to save energy and money
• Consider making one or two changes from these top tips
• When buying physical presents, consider their sustainability (consider raw ingredients eg palm oil, manufacturing processes, packaging, longevity and disposal).
• If using wrapping paper choose non glitter/laminated products. Use the scrunch test to identify recyclable paper, remove sellotape and decorations.

Dates for your Diary

Join our Creation Care Litter Pick on Saturday 6^th January at 3-4pm meeting outside the Church Hall.

Saturday 9^th December Global Day of Action for Climate Justice

Get Involved

Please get in touch at creation@highfield.church if you would like to join the creation care working group or if you have any ideas, we would love to hear from you!

Creation Care - October 2023

Climate Action Working Group Update

Following discussions with the PCC, the group are obtaining quotes for solar panels on our south facing roof elevations to supply part of the electricity usage of the church and if possible, the church centre. We are also exploring ideas to avoid heat loss through our main entrance, the West Door, and through our roof. A new mowing pattern of the grass in our churchyard has now been agreed with the council to promote flourishing of natural habitats. Monthly litter picks continue (see below).

A Rubbish Situation and a week of prayer 30 October – 5 November 2023

Our world has an urgent rubbish problem with an ever-growing mountain of plastic waste, much of which is single use, with 2 billion people in low and middle-income countries having no way to safely dispose of their rubbish resulting in burning and dumping of plastics. Many of the poorest in our world have to live and work among toxic waste and fumes, waterways are polluted causing disease and flooding; and the killing of phytoplankton in the oceans creates a threat to oceanic health and it’s capacity for carbon capture.

There is good news that the UN Environment Programme has published the first draft of the first ever Global Plastics Treaty on 4 September 2023 which states that nations should aim for the prevention, progressive reduction and elimination of plastic pollution throughout the lifecycle of plastic with a comprehensive approach. The idea is to reduce the absolute level of plastics production globally, with a focus on the materials that pose the most risk to the environment and to public health. There are ongoing negotiations throughout 2023 and 2024 on this draft treaty.

What can we do?

• Get Informed: Find out more about this through the Tearfund Rubbish Campaign
• Act: Sign the TearFund petition to our Secretary of State for Environment to take action
• Pray: Join Christians around the world in a week of prayer organised by TearFund praying for further UN treaty negotiations and agreement on this necessary change and how to achieve it, for waste pickers, for protection from disease, and for change in how we all live to reduce pollution. You can find further resources to guide your prayers and sign up for daily updates and prayer prompts Week of Prayer and Action
• Reflect: Consider your personal, household and workplace plastic use and what changes you could make, however small.

Reduce, reuse and recycle

Identify single use plastics in your life and explore possible alternatives. Start with refillable water bottles, reusable coffee cups and lunch boxes. Could you reduce your plastic consumption by using a refillery for food and cleaning products such as Bitterne Park Stores or refillable beauty products such as those available at The Body Shop Refill Scheme | Refill Stations | The Body Shop®? Bitterne Box Company also produce a plastic free sustainably delivered veg box (delivered locally by cargo bike)

Try to recycle as much of your plastic waste as possible. Home recycling bins take plastic bottles (PET (1) and HDPE (2)) which includes most plastic bottles but do not take other plastics, classes 3-7. Most major supermarkets (including Sainsburys, Waitrose, Tesco, Aldi, Lidl) now accept clean and dry flexible plastic packaging that can be scrunched. This includes crisp packets, cereal bags, flexible wrapping around vegetables, salads, toilet and kitchen roll, cracker and biscuit wrappers etc.

A number of retailers now accept more difficult to recycle empty plastic beauty products including The Body Shop, John Lewis, Boots (not Portswood Road), Superdrug, and M&S. Check individual stores and websites for further details and restrictions.

Terracycle run a variety of schemes including a new used medicine blister pack scheme, pens, lunch boxes and other harder to recycle plastics. 

Hard plastic items (eg chairs) can be recycled at the Southampton Household Waste Recycling Centre but there is no local provision for recycling plastic yogurt pots and trays. It is important not to mix items such as this in other recycling streams as contamination can result in waste being discarded rather than recycled. For more details on recycling locally check out Recycle Now

Dates for your Diary

Join our Creation Care Litter Pick on Saturday 4 November and 2 December 3-4pm meeting outside the Church Hall.

Call in at the Southampton Repair Café: Saturday 18^th November 10.30 St Denys Community Centre Repair Café

Get Involved

Please get in touch at creation@highfield.church if you would like to join the creation care working group or if you have any ideas, we would love to hear from you!

Creation Care - September 2023

Creationtide

‘Creationtide’, or ‘Season of Creation’ (1^st September- 4^th October), is the period in the annual church calendar dedicated to God as Creator and Sustainer of Life.  The theme of this year’s ecumenical Season of Creation, “Let Justice and Peace Flow”, is inspired by the words of the prophet Amos: “Let justice flow on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream” (5:24).  In his message for Creation day on 1^st September 2023, The Pope asks, “How can we contribute to the mighty river of justice and peace in this Season of Creation?  What can we, particularly as Christian communities, do to heal our common home so that it can once again teem with life?” His suggestion is that we: “…do this by resolving to transform our hearts, our lifestyles, and the public policies ruling our societies.”  You can access the full message here.

There is a global ecumenical on line prayer service on 1^st September 2023 you can listen to on YouTube here.  Why not take some time this season to enjoy creation, to thank God for it and to see how we can honour him in it?  Maybe identify a time in your day when you can do this such as on a walk or commute to school, work or other activities?  There are some daily devotionals available (from 2019) on the Church of England Website Daily-Reflections-for-Creationtide-A4.pdf (churchofengland.org).

We would love to hear about you experiences at creation@highfield.church

Take Action

Join the Creation Care group for our monthly litter pick which will be happening on the 2^nd September at 4pm, meeting at the church centre and lasting for roughly 1 hour - if you are planning on coming, then do let the team know on creation@highfield.church 

Call in at the Southampton Repair Café: 2^nd September at St James by the Park and 16^th September at St Denys, Repair Cafe (transitionsouthampton.org)

Book a ticket for ‘Cinema and the matter of waste’ by Professor Karl Schoonover, a University of Southampton event, 4-6pm on Tuesday 10^th October via https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cinema-and-the-matter-of-waste-tickets-658549287647?aff=erelexpmlt

Get involved

Please get in touch by email at creation@highfield.church if you would like to join the creation care working group or if you have any ideas, we'd love to hear from you!

Creation Care - May 2023

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Take Action

Join the Creation Care group for our monthly litter pick which will be happening on the 6th May at 4pm, meeting at the church centre lasting for roughly 1 hour - if your are planning on coming, then let the team know on creation@highfield.church

" 2 billion people have no safe way to dispose of rubbish, and it’s people in poverty who are suffering the worst impacts of this rubbish problem. They are forced to live and work among piles of waste, which is making them sick, releasing toxic fumes, flooding communities and causing up to a million deaths each year." 

- this is taken from Tearfund's "Rubbish Campaign". You can sign the petition and find out more about this massive issue (including resources to do with your kids) here.

Head to one of Southampton's Repair Cafes, taking place on 6 May at St James by the Park Parish Hall, 1A Colebrook Ave SO15 5LW, and 20 May at St Denys Community Centre, Priory Rd, SO17 2JZ. Full details on the website. All cafes are 10:30am - 1:00pm, no need to book, cash donations appreciated! More help needed especially on reception at Freemantle/Shirley.

Listen In

The organisation 'Caring for God's Acre' who focus on promoting nature in the UK's burial grounds is running a webinar on the 25th of May about Bumblebee conservation and joining citizen science to monitor these loveable insects. There will be ID tips for recognising the most common species and an introduction to the Beewalk Citizen Science scheme. To book on click here

We have previously mentioned on this blog about the 'people's plan for nature', a plan for nature created by normal people - " a vision for the future of nature, and the actions we must all take to protect and renew it". You can read and add your voice here

Get involved

Please get in touch by email at creation@highfield.church if you would like to join the creation care working group or if you have any ideas, we'd love to hear from you!

Creation Care - April 2023

Join us as we care for creation in light of the climate and environment crisis. 

Find updates on the church's progress to become carbon neutral by 2030, and practical inspiration to care for creation in your daily life.

Creation Care series

At our creation care lunch on the 26th March, Andy from Arocha answered questions on how we can live out caring for creation. He challenged us to think about what it means to give up the comfort we have become used to, and pursue wholehartedly living for Jesus by caring for his creation. How have you been challenged so far in our series?

Listen in

Join butterfly expert and author, Mike Slater for a webinar about our wonderful butterflies and how we can help them flourish in church burial grounds. Event link can be found here

If you're keen to campaign for a greener future but don't know where to start, then why not join Arocha's ‘Campaigning in your community’. This online event will take place on 18 April, 7-8pm, event details here.

Take part

Fancy planting a tree for free but don't have the space? treeapp is a free app which will plant a tree for you after you've watched a short video in the app. You can plant one a day.

Sunday the 2nd April is the date for the Big Green Hike, this event aims to raise money for nature and environmental charities across the UK.

Give thanks

It can be all too easy to focus on the problems with climate change, and get down hearted about the scale of the problems, but there are good works going on all around aiming to restore and protect nature. Have a read of 12 re wilding projects to give thanks for and spend some time praising God.

Get involved

Please get in touch by email at creation@highfield.church if you would like to join the creation care working group or if you have any ideas, we'd love to hear from you!

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Creation Care - March 2023

Join us as we care for creation in light of the climate and environment crisis. 

Find updates on the church's progress to become carbon neutral by 2030, and practical inspiration to care for creation in your daily life.

Creation Care series

We are excited to be going through a series on creation care here at Highfield, where our services and smallgroups will be looking at how we can care for creation. Why not join us at our creation care lunch lunch on the 26th March, where are visitng speaker from Arocha will join us. You can sign up via the church website. 

Listen in

Some intersting article that we have recently found include a Q+A with the Aussie 'Forest Maker' (World-renowned agronomist Tony Rinaudo), you can read the interview here, or have a read of reflections from Ed Brown who has travelled the world teaching on creation care here.

Take part

Sunday the 2nd April is the date for the Big Green Hike, this event aims to raise money for nature and environmental charities across the UK.

Get involved

Please get in touch by email at creation@highfield.church if you would like to join the creation care working group or if you have any ideas, we'd love to hear from you!

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Creation Care - February 2023

Join us as we care for creation in light of the climate and environment crisis. 

Find updates on the church's progress to become carbon neutral by 2030, and practical inspiration to care for creation in your daily life.

Listen In

• October books in portswood are hosting a talk on There is a talk on home composting on the 13th Feb at October Books (6:50pm for 7pm start). It considers the bad advice and good science surrounding this subject. 
• There's lots of debate around using Log burners and open fires to keep warm over winter. This blog by the environment centre (based in Southampton) discuss some of the issues.
• Fancy testing your knowledge of our natural world? Arocha are hosting a virtual quiz on the 9th Feb 7-8pm. Click here to register.
• Lent is just round the corner starting on the 22nd Feb (can you believe that!) for some ideas of how to connect with our Creator and God’s creation Arocha have produced a resource to help. 

Make a change

• Do you have any items that need fixing?  Rather than throwing them out, why not go along to one of Southampton's repair cafes on Feb 4th at Freemantle Baptist Church (SO15 8RL), or Feb 18  at Immaculate Conception Church Hall Portswood (for electrical & sewing items only). more details can be found here.

Get involved

Please get in touch by email at creation@highfield.church if you would like to join the creation care working group or if you have any ideas, we'd love to hear from you!

Creation Care - December 2022

Join us as we care for creation in light of the climate and environment crisis. 

Find updates on the church's progress to become carbon neutral by 2030, and practical inspiration to care for creation in your daily life.

Church Update

Different tree this year?

This year at Christmas, Highfield are supproting A Rocha to plant native trees in the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest in Kenya. This is a rainforest in danger of being cut down for charcoal and pineapples. Their aim is to plant 25,000 trees a year but they need your help! Why not send a present to the rainforest this year by adding a tree or two to your Christmas lists!

Listen In

• Have a listen to 39 ways to save the planet, for ideas and news on tackling climate change
• Sleepers Wake is the Archbishop of York’s Advent Book for 2022. It explores the reality of climate change and how Advent is an opportunity for us to wake up, sense the urgency and begin to make radical change.

Make a change

• Southampton Council has a page on their 'our green city' website, with ideas on how to make a change.  
• Bitterne Park Stores located in Bitterne triangle, have a wide range of refill products available. At Christmas time they also have Christmas trees available.

Get involved

Please get in touch by email at creation@highfield.church if you would like to join the creation care working group or if you have any ideas, we'd love to hear from you!

Creation Care - November 2022

Join us as we care for creation in light of the climate and environment crisis. 

Find updates on the church's progress to become carbon neutral by 2030, and practical inspiration to care for creation in your daily life.

Climate change is back in the spotlight this November as COP 27 takes places from the 6th - 18th in Egypt. This is a great opportunity to pray that our world leaders would be bold in taking climate change and fulfilling promises they have made. Read more about how you can engage with it at this blog by Tearfund 

Church Update

The climate working group have received the initial report of the energy audit of the church building, so we are now in the process of digesting this and using it to make a roadmap towards being carbon neutral, watch this space!

Listen In

• Does the climate crisis ever feel unsolvable to you? The podcast series Language of God has a 3 part series that explores this question called Creation Groans

Make a change

• The Church of England has put together recommendations about how we can make our lifestyles more sustainable - take a look at their suggestions here

• Take a look at the Retrofit Southampton website for home energy-saving inspiration from other local residents including fitters, installers and home DIY projects. They can also lend monitoring equipment and thermal imaging cameras to help assess your household energy use and where you can make potential savings.

• The OLIO app seeks to reduce food waste by encouraging neighbourhood food sharing instead of throwing away excess food. Find out more details here on their website and make sure to take a look at their joint 200 Million Meals Campaign video with Fareshare 

Give Thanks

As the autumn leaves begin to show their colours and the weather grows colder why not take time this week to enjoy this change in season and give thanks to God for the beautiful colours and this season of his creation.

Get involved

• Get creative and get involved with the Church of England and Christian Aid’s Letters for Creation project. A project for all generations to help everyone understand, highlight and act on key issues within the climate crisis. 

Please get in touch by email at creation@highfield.church if you would like to join the creation care working group or if you have any ideas, we'd love to hear from you!  

Creation Care - October 2022

Join us as we care for creation in light of the climate and environment crisis. 

Find updates on the church's progress to become carbon neutral by 2030, and practical inspiration to care for creation in your daily life.

Listen In

• The Southampton group Transition is putting on 2 talks at Highfield church centre in October to respond to the energy price crisis. Draughts, Damp and Wellbeing is on Wednesday 5th October at 7pm, and Heat pump and be Merrie is on Wednesday 12th October at 7.30pm. For more details click here. 

• In case you missed it you can catch up with Songs of Praise’s Caring for Creation, featuring aRocha on BBC player that was broadcast for the start of the Great Big Green week.

Make a change

• Have you ever considered the power of your pension? the website make my money matter claims that greening your pension is 21 times more effective at cutting carbon than stopping flying, going veggie & switching energy supplier combined! Pensions are often invested in harmful fossil fuel companies, whereas they can be used as forces for good like clean energy.

• If you're looking for an alternative to new clothing, but still want good quality, then Joules Reskinned is 100% reused or recycled Joules clothing

• Have a look at Tearfund's campaign calling on the UK government to ensure climate finance for poorer countries is delivered, or the wildlife trust's campaign to defend nature in light of the governements recent announcements to lift the ban on fracking, change laws which protect nature and encourage farmers to manage land in a nature friendly way.

Give thanks

• This week the government of Wales voted to end the use of a variety of single use plastic, a big step forward in caring for our world, lets pray for the rest of the UK to follow suit! Click here for details

Get involved

Please get in touch by email at creation@highfield.church if you would like to join the creation care working group or if you have any ideas, we'd love to hear from you!

Creation Care - September 2022

Join us as we care for creation in light of the climate and environment crisis. 

Find updates on the church's progress to become carbon neutral by 2030, and practical inspiration to care for creation in your daily life.

September has many events to join, from a talk on domestic insulation at Highfield church centre by one of our congregation on the 28th September, to the Church of England's 'Season of Creation' webinars, see below for details. 

Which events could you attend and encourage those around you with what you have learnt?

Listen In

• The Southampton group Transition is putting on a talk at Highfield church centre at 7pm on 28th September called Insulation, Insulation, Insulation - Improving the performance of your home, a very timely subject with cooler days coming soon
  

• The church of England's season of creation webinars cover a range of topics. A couple that interested us were; What does the New Testament have to say about the environment? (12th September at 12 PM), and Why evangelism and creation care are essential to each other (September 20th at 4 PM).

• Have a look at this video and report produced by the Big plastic count - a project which exposed that the UK throws away 100 Billion pieces of plastic per year, with just 12% actually being recycled. There is a petition you can sign and share the video with those around you to highlight this problem

Make a change

• The recent devestating floods in Pakistan have left millions of people suffering. Sadly these extreme weather events are becoming all the more common due to climate change, and affecting the poorest in our world. Tearfund have launched an appeal to support those in need, could you help financially or prayerfully?

• Buying second hand clothes is a great way to reduce our use of resources. The online app Vinted is one way to do this, as well as the excellent local charity shops in Southampton.

• Swapping out single use plastic to reusable glass bottles is a small step to reducing plastic waste. Milk and More is one company that provides home milk deliveries in glass bottles.

Get involved

Please get in touch by email at creation@highfield.church if you would like to join the creation care working group or if you have any ideas, we'd love to hear from you!

Creation Care - August 2022

Join us as we care for creation in light of the climate and environment crisis. 

Find updates on the church's progress to become carbon neutral by 2030, and practical inspiration to care for creation in your daily life.

We saw the shocking effects of climate change so clearly in the recent UK July heatwave with record breaking temperatures and their consequences. Scientist have little doubt that these extremes are due to human effects on the planet (see BBC article). But these effects are already being faced by communities around the world who often have little resources to cope with them. How will you pray and act to reduce the effects of the climate crisis?

Make a change

• Have a look at Tearfund's petition to ensure finance is delivered to climate vulnerable communities

• Following the recent heatwave and extended period of dry weather Hampshire will see it's first Temporary Use Ban since 2012 starting on Friday 5th August in an attempt to protect our rivers and surrounding habitats.  Read this post from the Energy Saving Trust for simple ideas on how you can help to save water at home, can you commit to a long term change?

• Switching out meat for vegetarian alternatives is a great to reduce your carbon footprint. Some of our favourite tried and tested recipes include a Halloumi Curry, Jerk Sweet Potato Stew and a Sweet Leek Carbonara

Get involved

Please get in touch by email at creation@highfield.church if you would like to join the creation care working group or if you have any ideas, we'd love to hear from you!

Creation Care - July 2022

Join us as we care for creation in light of the climate and environment crisis. 

Find updates on the church's progress to become carbon neutral by 2030, and practical inspiration to care for creation in your daily life.

July Church projects

A few weeks ago on a sunny evening, some of the creation care group and others from Highfield church took part in the nationwide Churches count on Nature, which aims to discover the wildlife in our local churchyards and contribute to national wildlife database. In only a couple of hours,we found 14 species of trees, and over 30 species of plants. We hope this work will go towards improving the biodiversity of the church yard and making more space for nature

Make a change

• Who gives a crap is a toilet paper company with a difference. They donate 50% of their profits to help build toilets and improve sanitation in the developing world, and it is all plastic free as well.

• One of the main features of the BBC TV series "the great british sewing bee" is the transformation challenge. Where sewers take a piece of clothing and transform it into something new, saving on throwing clothes away. Why no learn how to mend and repair clothes rathern than buying new and have a look at this video for ideas.

• We've been trying to reduce our food waste, some of our favourite ideas are; putting over ripe bananas in the freezer and using them to make banana bread at a later date, making carrot top pesto, using brocolli stalks in stir frys and keeping bread in the freezer so it lasts for longer, if you have any tips, get in touch with the church office and we can feature them here! 

Enjoy Creation

• Why no get along to the Southampton Big Green event at the Guildhall Saturday 30th July, 11am-3:30pm. This free event, is family friendly and hosts sustainable businesses where you can shop, ask the experts, watch demonstrations and even grab a pre-loved bargain

Get involved

Please get in touch by email at creation@highfield.church if you would like to join the creation care working group or if you have any ideas, we'd love to hear from you!

Creation Care - June 2022

Join us as we care for creation in light of the climate and environment crisis. 

Find updates on the church's progress to become carbon neutral by 2030, and practical inspiration to care for creation in your daily life.

June Church projects

Members of the creation care group met to review the lighting in the church, with a view to reduce our energy use. Our hope is that we can cut down on lighting parts of the church which are not needed, while maximise the natural lighting in the church.

Caring for God's Acre is a national charity that aims to help people care for church yards and burial grounds. Along with the church of England and Arocha, they are promoting an event called Churches count on Nature, which aims to discover the wildlife in our local churchyards and contribute to national wildlife database. Join us on Monday the 6th of June at 7pm. We will meet at the main entrance, no nature knowledge necessary!

Make a change

• With the summer getting going and BBQs on the menu, why not try going meat free? Meat has a far higher carbon foot print than eating veggie or vegan. If you need some ideas have a look at this blog post by theonlinegrill.com

• Fairphone are on a mission to make fairer smartphones which source materials responsibly and advocate for better worker's rights. The phone has modular elements which can be repaired by the user, so avoiding the need for a whole new phone. 

• If you are keen to cut down on your waste then have a look at the Refill app, this helps by connecting you to places to eat, drink and shop at places with less waste. In southampton we have some fantastic refill shops of our own, Rice Up and Gaia Health Store.

Enjoy Creation

Getting out and about is a great way to enjoy God's creation. Bike week is happening this year from 6-12 June. The local group, Southampton cycling campaign are organising a series of guided rides during this week. Click here for details

If you're a seasoned gardener or just getting into growing, then why not head along to the Plant & seed swap and sale which is taking place at October Books (Portswood) on Saturday 18th June 11am-1pm, and enjoy sharing plants with those in our local community

Get involved

Please get in touch if you would like to join the creation care working group or if you have any ideas / ways to link in with our work on creation care, we'd love to hear from you!

Creation Care - May 2022

Join us as we care for creation in light of the climate and environment crisis. 

Find updates on the church's progress to become carbon neutral by 2030, and practical inspiration to care for creation in your daily life.

May Church projects

The church's ambition to become carbon neutral by 2030 is a big undertaking with such an old building and so many activities and groups. The Energy Audit which will begin in early May is essential to create a roadmap to reach this goal, as it will help us take stock of our current position and ensure we target our resources to make the most effective changes possible.

The Thermostat will remain turned down by 1 degree to 19 degrees during May, a small change but one that will help us all be aware of our impact on creation. We also continue to encourage people to reduce using the South Door to limit drafts and heat loss.

Make a change

• Lock up your lawn mower for No Mow May. This national campaign aims to allow grass and wild flowers in your lawn to bloom through the month of May, providing essential nectar for hungry pollinators. If you don't have a lawn, why not contact the Council (you can email them: greencity@southampton.gov.uk.) to ask them to support this campaign in our city's parks and green spaces.

• Got something that needs fixing? Give Southampton's Repair Cafe a try. They can help with a wide range of items and clothing. We have also recently discovered Repairhaus, which is a free repair service that will keep on repairing your Berghaus clothing or equipment as many times as possible, enabling you to reuse and not replace.

• We want to encourage our whole church family to get onboard with caring for God's creation. The book Kids Fight Plastic is written especially for children and has loads of practical ideas on how to make small daily changes which add up to a big total

Listen in

One of Highfield's Mission partners Arocha are hosting a couple of events in May (both are online and in person) called Responding with Resilience to the Climate Crisis and A new law to combat the ecological crisis? Why not sign-up and see how you can be encouraged, you could even do this with your smallgroup.

Enjoy Creation

• Planning your summer holiday? Getting away can be one of the best ways to enjoy creation and connect with God. Now that the world is more accessible again, why not reduced your carbon footprint and swap flying for the train. There are many destinations all over Europe and the UK acessible by train, with some beautiful scenery to enjoy enroute - we have found Rail Europe a useful tool for planning journeys abroad. Be inspired by this video by travelspot.

Get involved

Please get in touch if you would like to join the creation care working group or if you have any ideas / ways to link in with our work on creation care, we'd love to hear from you!

Creation Care - April 2022

Join us as we care for creation in light of the climate and environment crisis. 

Find updates on the church's progress to become carbon neutral by 2030, and practical inspiration to care for creation in your daily life.

April Church projects

I'm sure you have seen the recent skyrocketing of energy prices in the news. Our church is not excempt from this and the projections for our energy bills are around set to increase from £14,000 to £32,000! So this seemed like a good chance to take some small steps to reduce our energy bills. In the long run we are working towards being carbon neutral by 2030, and reviewing the heating system will play a large part in this.

• Thermostat
  • we will be lowering the church thermostat by 1 degree, so come prepared for slightly cooler temperatures
• South door 
  • In the four weeks running up to Easter we will be trialing closing the south door and only having the West door as access to church to reduce heat loss and drafts in the church. 
  • The south door will be unlocked for fire safety reasons but we encourage you to use the West door if you are able.
• Church centre heating
  • To help with the effeciency of the church centre the radiator thermostatic valves are being fixed/replaced as needed, to help avoid wasting energy.

• Cycle parking; 
  • Plans are ongoing to purcahase a cycle rack, we hope to locate this next to the West door by the road which will give the best visibility to improve security and ease of access.

Make a change

• At this time when household energy is in the headlines, have a look at how green your energy supplier is and if you can make a switch to a more environmentally friendly option. Money saving expert has a guide with some things to consider.

Enjoy Creation

Churches all around the UK are taking action on climate change. Tearfund have made some videos highlighting some of the work that has been done. Have a look here and be inspired by what we could do as a church.

Get involved

Please get in touch if you would like to join the creation care working group or if you have any ideas / ways to link in with our work on creation care, we'd love to hear from you!

Creation Care - 27th March

Join us as we care for creation in light of the climate and environment crisis. 

Find updates on the church's progress to become carbon neutral by 2030, and practical inspiration to care for creation in your daily life.

Make a change

• With spring well on the way can you swap the car for walking or cycling? The city has various 'bike doctors' who will repair and saftey check your bike (usually paying only for parts). There are various drop-in sessions run regualrly all over the city including the Hospital and University. Have a look at myjourneysouthampton and RideRide for details of upcoming events.

• If you have done the carbon footprint calculator, then have a look at the energy saving trust website for some ideas about how to make your home more energry efficient and reduce your carbon emissions.

March Church projects

• Energy audit; we are in the process of organising a carbon audit of the church that will take into account all the ways energy is used at church. This will give us the starting point to make a plan for how we are going to reduce our carbon consumption and become carbon neutral by 2030

• Cycle parking; we are hoping to improve the cycle parking at church, so that it is as easy and convienient as possible to cycle to church. Keep a look out for new bike racks soon

Enjoy Creation

With longer evenings starting today now that the clocks have gone back, how will you make use of the longer evenings to enjoy creation? 

Any Ideas?

Please get in touch if you have any ideas / ways to link in with our work on creation care, we'd love to hear from you!

Creation Care - 20th March

Join us as we care for creation in light of the climate and environment crisis. 

Find updates on the church's progress to become carbon neutral by 2030, and practical inspiration to care for creation in your daily life.

Make a change

• Sign up to the Wild Christian blog from Arocha UK, which explores how we can connect our christian faith, the natural world and how we live in it.

• Lent is a great time to consider making changes to how we live to care for creation, a great resource to help with this is the book Changing the climate, Applying the Bible in a climate emergency. 

• If you're looking for ways to cut down on plastic and waste in general then why not try one of Southampton's zero waste shops, Lemon and Jinja is based in Romsey with a wide range of food and domestic products, remember to take your own containers to fill up!

March Church projects

• Energy audit; we are in the process of organising a carbon audit of the church that will take into account all the ways energy is used at church. This will give us the starting point to make a plan for how we are going to reduce our carbon consumption and become carbon neutral by 2030

• Cycle parking; we are hoping to improve the cycle parking at church, so that it is as easy and convienient as possible to cycle to church. Keep a look out for new bike racks soon

Enjoy Creation

The spring bulbs are getting into full swing all around the city, why not head to Riverside park to enjoy the Daffodils and crocusses. Make some space to let the flowers remind you of God's splendor and glory in creation

Any Ideas?

Please get in touch if you have any ideas / ways to link in with our work on creation care, we'd love to hear from you!

Welcome to Creation Care - 13/03/2022

Join us as we care for creation in light of the climate and environment crisis. 

Find updates on the church's progress to become carbon neutral by 2030, and practical inspiration to care for creation in your daily life.

March Church projects

• Energy audit; we are in the process of organising a carbon audit of the church that will take into account all the ways energy is used at church. This will give us the starting point to make a plan for how we are going to reduce our carbon consumption and become carbon neutral by 2030

• Cycle parking; we are hoping to improve the cycle parking at church, so that it is as easy and convienient as possible to cycle to church. Keep a look out for new bike racks soon

Make a change

• Fill out a carbon footprint calculator to see how you are doing and how and where you can make improvements in your daily life

• Spring is on the way, so why not plan some green projects for where you live? From a small pot to a garden, there are loads of ways to make a space for nature. Click here for some inspiration from Arocha UK. 

• The Hampshire refillery deliver a range of household products, toiletries and food items straight to your doorstep in reused bottles. You can also become part of the circular economy by leaving out your empty plastic bottles which they will collect, clean and use for other orders - great for the planet and putting your empties to good use!

Enjoy Creation

Nehemiah 9:6 "You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you."

- What part of creation can you praise God for this week?

Any Ideas?

Please get in touch if you have any ideas / ways to link in with our work on creation care, we'd love to hear from you!