The 22nd meeting of Creation Care Network took place in Newtownbreda Presbyterian Church, Ormeau Road, Belfast on 16 March 2024. Ken Orr welcomed the Network back to Newtownbreda PC, and introduced Rev. Paul Lutton, newly installed minister at the church, who is very supportive of the work of the group.
After a short reflection from Bertie Stirling, we started with our usual sharing of environmental news from all the groups represented; with a large attendance at the meeting, this took quite a while and covered a wide range of topics, events and activities, from regular eco-tips in newsletters to a full-blown Sustainability Plan (for the Quakers). Bertie brought us updates on environmental developments at A Rocha, Drumalis and Corrymeela.
Several churches continue to work to increase biodiversity in their own grounds: Newtownbreda have established a small wildflower area and purchased a new polytunnel for the allotments behind the church. More churches are leaving areas of grass uncut, at least until the end of May. St. John’s Orangefield have planted a pollinators patch, with a native species orchard and fruit bushes. Knock Presbyterian have ordered a cycle rack and hosted the ecoCandle at services, as did Hillsborough Presbyterian.
It is very encouraging to hear from other churches about the initiatives they are undertaking with impact not just in their own congregation, but out into surrounding areas. Hillsborough have worked under the theme of ‘Love your neighbour, love your neighbourhood’ with activities such as a litter pick; this was mirrored by similar work at Regent St Presbyterian.
Knock Methodist have received the ECI Awareness Award, beginning their church’s journey along the path to greater sustainability. John and Patricia told us about some of their initiatives with the gardening group in the grounds, and raising awareness of recycling with new bins and signage.
In the second part of the meeting, Dr. Simon Doherty gave a talk about the charity ‘Ripple Effect’. Simon is a lecturer at the Institute of Global Food Security at QUB, past Chair of the British Veterinary Association, and keenly interested in local and global environmental matters. Formerly known as ‘Send a Cow’, Ripple Effect works with smallholder farmers in rural Africa. Farmers, particularly women, learn new techniques of planting and raising livestock, which they then pass on to others in their community. The charity is particularly interested in Sustainable Agriculture, making land productive and biodiverse, and building food security. For every family they work with, three others benefit – hence the ‘Ripple Effect’.
Simon finished by telling the meeting about their ‘Garden Twinning’ scheme. Both individuals and organisations in the UK such as churches or community gardens can ‘twin’ their garden with a family living in rural Migori, Kenya, providing three years training in sustainable organic farming. Starting with small kitchen gardens, families can grow enough to eat, set up small businesses, send their children to school and go after their dreams. See rippleeffect.org/gifts for details.
Next meeting hopefully to be in Knock Methodist Church Belfast, possibly September sometime.