Preserving Tradition - - - Embracing Change
Eco Church
We are registered with A Rocha UK’s Eco Church programme which equips churches in England and Wales to care for creation.
Currently we are working towards achieving a Bronze Eco Church award through positive changes to our church building and churchyard to make more environmentally friendly in the day to day running of the building and services and events. Small changes from withdrawing from single use plastics and food composting after events to more efficient heating systems.
However Eco church is not just about environmental impact, it's about teaching, social interaction and support within the community and further afield.
The following areas are where we are looking to embrace and improve where we can to achieve our Bronze award this year.
- Worship and teaching
- Buildings and energy
- Land and nature
- Community and global engagement
- Lifestyle
Whilst we would love to be able to generate our own electricity through the use of solar panels or ground source heat pumps etc, current building restrictions to the church being grade 1, its size and construction along with the surrounding graveyard make many of these options unobtainable or insufficient to currently meet the buildings needs. As technologies develop and requirements change it is an area we will be constantly reviewing.
But we can make small changes and sow the seeds to better ourselves and care for not just our beautiful earth but all its inhabitants too.
Want to help us win a bronze award?
If you would like to to help us achieve this award through change please get in touch
Small steps lead to BIG changes
Climate Change and Nature Impact
In recognising the impact of climate change and nature crises West Monkton Church actively supports and embraces the Parish Councils plan and strategy in taking local action to reduce impacts. If you would like to know more or volunteer to support local initiatives such as the Country Park, Community Fridge, Community Garden, Litter Picking or Water Watchers please go to the Parish Council website - Community - West Monkton Parish Council or email community@westmonktonparishcouncil.gov.uk
How you can find out more about how you and your household can respond to the nature crisis
A Rocha (A Rocha UK – Caring for creation) – A Rocha is an international Christian organization focused on nature conservation through community-based projects, scientific research, and environmental education. As a global family of organisations across six continents its mission is “To protect and restore the environment, motivated by Christian faith, focusing on practical conservation.” In the UK, A Rocha UK focuses on restoring habitats (such as Foxearth Meadows), and mobilizing Christians to care for nature.
- Subscribe to Root and Branch, A Rocha UK’s twice-yearly magazine: https://arocha.org.uk/our magazine/
- Read Eco Church news: https://ecochurch.arocha.org.uk/news/
- Keep up to date with our blog: https://arocha.org.uk/blog/
- Join A Rocha: https://arocha.org.uk/join-us/
- Sign up to A Rocha UK’s Wild Christian programme - Wild Christian - A Rocha UK
- On social media A Rocha UK is found at
- Instagram: @arocha_uk, #wildchristian, #ecochurch
- Twitter: @ARochaUK
- Facebook: @Arochaorguk
A Rocha UK provides a really useful guide on “You and Your Energy” identifying ways for reducing consumption and increasing efficiency of energy use by individuals and households - A Rocha UK - You and your energy
They also provide some excellent resources on how you can manage your own gardens and outdoor spaces to make a significant contribution to nature:
- Encouraging native wildlife - Encouraging Native Wildlife
- Encouraging birds - Encouraging birds
- Encouraging hedgehogs - Encouraging hedgehogs
- Encouraging moths and butterflies - Encouraging moths and butterflies
- Encouraging bees - Encouraging bees
- Ponds - Ponds
- Plants and pollinators - Plants for pollinators
- Native wild-flowers and grasslands - Native Wildflowers
How you can make an impact in reducing your own carbon footprints and connect more with nature
Support Earth Hour – https://www.wwf.org.uk/earth-hour
Nature and climate go hand in hand. Together, they form our life‑support system - giving us clean air, fresh water, the food we eat and so much more. Yet both are under threat. Earth Hour is a global moment for us to come together, switch off and show support for our world.
Every March, millions of people around the world join Earth Hour to show they care about the future of our planet. From iconic landmarks like Big Ben and the Sydney Opera House, to other iconic landmarks in cities across the globe, lights go out in a powerful display of global solidarity for our natural world.
Earth Hour isn’t just about turning off the lights – it's also a great time to mentally “switch off” and take a moment to relax and connect with nature. Whether on your own or with loved ones, we’ve got plenty of activities to help you celebrate Earth Hour with us!
Support Earth Day (22 April every year) - Earth Day: The Official Site | EARTHDAY.ORG
EARTHDAY.ORG’s founders created and organized the very first Earth Day on April 22, 1970. Since then, Earth Day Network has been mobilizing over 1 billion people annually on Earth Day, and every other day, to protect the planet.
Their campaigns focus on ending plastic use, forest canopies, climate and environmental literacy, food and environment, fashion for the earth and act on climate change.
They also recognise the power of faith as a powerful force that brings together communities and inspires action, making it a vital component of Earth Day 2026’s theme, Our Power, Our Planet. Across traditions, faith teaches stewardship, compassion, and responsibility for the Earth. As we advocate for tripling renewable energy by 2030, faith-based communities can lead by example-adopting clean energy, advocating for policies that protect the planet, and fostering hope in the face of environmental challenges. Just as faith moves mountains, it can also drive the shift to a healthier future, reminding us that protecting our shared home is both a moral obligation and spiritual calling. Faith & The Environment | Earth Day
Big Green Week - The Great Big Green Week
Great Big Green Week is the only mass moment for nature and climate in the UK, and it belongs to everyone.
Every June, thousands of events take place in towns, cities and villages across the country. From repair cafés and nature walks to community clean-ups and film screenings, people everywhere come together for good and make a real difference.
In 2025, more than a million people took part. In 2026, we want even more. Whether you organise something big, join something local or simply encourage a friend to get involved, every action counts.
Take the Jump (Take the Jump) is the movement that everyone can take part in, by trying six shifts. This isn’t a personal pledge, its a movement for real societal transformation! Their goal is a world of less stuff and more joy, where humanity is in balance with nature - through helping achieve a two-thirds reduction in the impact of consumption in rich countries by the early 2030’s.
What is your Carbon Footprint and how to reduce it
The following websites provide advice on undertaking your own household or business’s carbon footprint audit:
- Giki - Giki - Helping companies and individuals to reduce carbon emissions
- Climate Stewards - Consultancy | Climate Stewards
- WWF Footprint Calculator - WWF Footprint Calculator
Get started
Can be a little daunting and scary when you realise the position our beautiful earth is in and how damaged it could be in the future, but its not to late to do a little bit more to ease the situation for our future generations.
Bite size actions at first, these are easier to incorporate into your every day life and make habit forming, along with motivation to help tackle some bigger changes.
Start with the next time you come to church for a service or an event car share with a fellow parishioner. Small steps lead to big changes...