Flower seeds, bulbs and gardening equipment have been helping young people connect with nature, thanks to donations to a local children’s organisation by members of St Stephen’s with Eastburn in Steeton, Keighley.
The Church has recently received a Bronze Eco Church Award for its environmental work, which included holding services which focused on God’s creation, where the Eco Team were introduced, and the reality of global warming was reflected on.
After measuring the church’s carbon footprint, they have put in place an Eco Plan to reduce the carbon footprint of the church and its activities.
Additionally, they have received donations to enable them to install a rainwater butt, composter, planter and peat-free compost for beds in the church grounds for community use.
Tom Chilton, Parish Environment Officer, said: “The idea is that the children learn to grow things and see plants develop and to water the bulbs.
“The planter, water butt, and composter are all within the confines of the church hall play area for security.
“This is also a way of developing improved connections with the children, the supervisors and helping us all play our part in caring for God’s Creation.”
The church have now started fundraising for Phase 2 of the project, to install a second larger water butt and a larger raised planter to encourage school children and teenagers to grow vegetables, that can sold in aid of local charities.
A grant for £410, from Bradford Community Fund, has already been secured towards the cost of the project.
“We hope this will encourage these children to use spare land to grow food and teach them the importance of looking after the local and global envionment,” said Tom.