Eco award for Hale Church in New Forest
Their 'ecological focus' helps reduce energy and water consumption
Last updated 17th Jan 2022
St Mary’s Church in Hale has achieved a Bronze Eco Church Award in recognition of its good environmental practices and for addressing the climate crisis.
The Eco-Church scheme - run by from A Rocha UK (a Christian nature conservation charity) - aims to equip churches and individuals to look at their impact on the environment and to create a movement to help restore biodiversity at a local level. St Mary’s Hale is one of six churches in the Avon Valley Churches team (in the Winchester Diocese) located on the western edge of the New Forest.
The congregation was asked to consider the environmental impact of the church and its activities. including its services, management of buildings and land, community and global engagement and personal lifestyle.
St Mary’s Hale has run Snowdrop Services with an ecological focus; reduced the energy and water consumption at the church; carried out a wildlife survey recording over 100 species; run a monthly Fairtrade stall at the local market and supported Christian Aid in their global effort to lobby leaders to care for creation.
FOLLOWING CATHEDRAL EXAMPLE
In June 2021 Greatest Hits Radio Salisbury reported on how Salisbury Cathedral had become the first ever cathedral in the country to achieve a GOLD Eco-Church Award from A Rocha UK. Among the initiatives that earned the Cathedral its Gold Award was its pledge to be carbon neutral by 2030, installing solar panels on the South Cloister roof, and providing a habitat supporting endangered peregrine falcons on the Cathedral Tower.
HALE CHURCH AWARD
The team at St Mary’s Hale have shown their determination and dedication for environmental causes over many years. To secure a Bronze Award in 2021, despite all of the challenges caused by the pandemic, shows that even when it is difficult or inconvenient, we can all make environmentally conscious decisions. During the lockdown, services went online and reusable fabric facemasks were sold to raise money for Ringwood Foodbank.#
Each action from the weekly prayers to the ‘Hale’s Angels’ Choir car share scheme shows consideration for the environment in all aspects of church life.
Bethan Davies, the Eco Church Champion for St Mary’s Hale, said,
“The Eco Church Award scheme brings together groups from across the community and channels concern for our planet into positive action. I’d especially like to thank our congregation for their continued dedication, and the energies of our many partners, such as Woodgreen Community Shop, the organisers of Hale Food Market, Hale House and Hampshire Fungus Recording Group. They all have a stake in this award. Next we will be going for gold!”