Wickford Wildlife Association have recently carried out a number of wildlife surveys at our churchyards and found some interesting species during these. A few photographs taken during the surveys can be seen below.
https://www.wickfordwildlife.co.uk/
https://www.wickfordwildlife.co.uk/
Parish of Wickford and Runwell - Environmental Update September 2024
WICKFORD WILDLIFE’S MOTH NIGHT AT ST MARY’S
On Friday 23rd August our good friends Wickford Wildlife held a ‘Moth Night’ at St Mary’s. “We set up a light outside the church hall and two traps in the old graveyard. Weather was warm and a bit breezy at times but was dry and pretty good for moths. Lights went on about 8.30pm and we soon started seeing moths, with a Gypsy Moth being the first on the list. The action was pretty steady throughout the evening with many species coming to the light, including such beauties as Jersey Tiger, Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, Orange Swift and Yellow Shell. Around 10.30pm we decided to check the traps in the old graveyard. The trap under the large oaks did not have many moths – a solitary Jersey Tiger but had lots of very interesting Acorn Weevils! However, the trap in the middle of the graveyard was completely full of moths including a fantastic Elephant Hawk Moth. Overall, we identified 31 moth species plus a few other interesting things.” With thanks to Martin Singleton for organising the evening, taking the photos and collating the finds. They plan on coming back again next year!
Some of the species found that evening: Angle Shades; Box Tree Moth; Brimstone Moth; Burnished Brass; Clay Triple-lines; Cloaked Minor; Codling Moth; Common Carpet; Common Wainscot; Dark Bordered Pearl; Dusky Thorn; Elephant Hawk-moth; Flame Shoulder; Gypsy Moth; Hawthorn Moth; Jersey Tiger; Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing; Oak Hook-tip; Orange Swift; Setaceous Hebrew Character; Silver Y; Small China-mark; Small Dusty Wave; Square-spot Rustic; Star-wort; Straw Underwing; The Clay; Vine's Rustic; Water Veneer; Willow Beauty; Yellow Shell.
Watch out for the survey results for the whole year, coming soon. With grateful thanks to Wickford Wildlife for all their support. If you are interested in joining them please do contact them, they are always open to new members. https://www.wickfordwildlife.co.uk/
Season of Creation Prayer 2024
Triune God, Creator of all, We praise you for your goodness, visible in all the diversity that you have created, making us a cosmic family living in a common home. Through the Earth you created, we experience love and nourishment, home and protection. We confess that we do not relate to the Earth as a Mothering gift from you, our Creator. Our selfishness, greed, neglect, and abuse have caused the climate crisis, loss of biodiversity, human suffering as well as the suffering of all our fellow creatures. We confess that we have failed to listen to the groans of the Earth, the groans of all creatures, and the groans of the Spirit of hope and justice that lives within us. May your Creator Spirit help us in our weakness, so that we may know the redeeming power of Christ and the hope found in him. May the groans of the Spirit birth in us a willingness to serve you faithfully, so that we may hear and heal Creation, to hope and act together with her, so that the first-fruits of hope may blossom. Loving and Creator God, we pray that you will make us sensitive to these groans and enable us to have the same compassion as that of Jesus, the redeeming Lord. Grant us a fresh vision of our relationship with Earth, and with one another, as creatures that are made in your image. In the name of the one who came to proclaim the good news to all Creation, Jesus Christ. Amen.
April 2024
On April 4th Wickford Wildlife came to have a look around our churchyards for the first time. They will be helping us survey the flora and fauna at various points throughout the year, particularly when we take part in ‘Love your Burial Ground, Churches Count on Nature’ week in June*.
Look what they found at St Catherine’s
From Martin Singleton. “…… we did find something interesting yesterday at St Catherine’s. In the church wall facing south there were several dark bees going into holes in the wall and I managed to get a photo of one of these. A quick google search and this is a Common Mourning Bee – something I had never heard of before. I think this is a female.
It has an interesting lifestyle, see below:
‘Mourning bees are unmistakable solitary bees with striking white spots down the sides of their abdomen. They are cleptoparasites which will invade the prestocked nests of their host, Hairy-footed flower bees (Anthophora plumipes) and lay their own eggs. The larvae hatch before the host’s and consume the competition as well as the stored pollen, ready to emerge as adults the following spring. Found in a wide variety of habitats, but especially where its host is nesting in high densities. Urban greenspaces, parks, gardens and soft cliff faces are good places to look out for them. They feed from a wide variety of spring blossoms, such as apples and cherries, and can also be seen feeding on dandelions, gorse, wallflower, rosemary, and kidney vetch. Commonly found where its host occurs and following its host’s spread northwards. Current distribution covers most of southern Britain with records up to Yorkshire, although this species is scarcer in the southwest of England and Wales.’ (Source - Bumblebee Conservation Trust) We can also reasonably assume that the churchyard contains Hairy Footed Flower Bees, and we will have to look for these next time. Quite appropriate to find a Mourning Bee in a churchyard too!” *
Environment News January 2024
We are delighted to share that all three of our churches have now received the Bronze Eco-Church Award. We are now all looking forward to working towards the Silver award.
Watch out for events that you will be able to join us in during ‘Love your Burial Ground and Churches Count on Nature’ week, Saturday 8th to Sunday 16th June. We will be teaming up with Wickford Wildlife to complete wildlife surveys in our churchyards over the year, and particularly as part of that week.
You can find out more about the week here:
Video – Love Your Burial Ground Week – Caring For God's Acre – the conservation charity for burial grounds across the UK
caringforgodsacre.org.uk
and more about Wickford Wildlife here:
The Wickford Wildlife Society was formed in 1984 and offers local people the chance to see indoor wildlife presentations on a wide variety of topics and visit some of the excellent nature reserves and wildlife areas for which Essex is famous. Indoor meetings are held at St Andrews Church Hall, Wickford during the winter months, and Outdoor meetings take place during the spring and summer months normally on Sunday mornings. If you are interested in learning more about your local wildlife and visiting some of the excellent wildlife sites in Essex, please visit our website at www.wickfordwildlife.co.uk or email us at info@wickfordwildlife.co.uk.
November 2023
All our hall toilets are now ‘twinned’, with thanks to all those who donated for a copy of ‘The Vicarage Cat’ to help us raise the funds needed.
Throughout September and the first week of October we prayed in support of the Season of Creation which was a global call to prayer and action from all churches. The theme was ‘Let Justice and Peace Flow’, in recognition that it is in fact the poorest of countries who suffer the most because of climate change. During that time various tips and information from the Eco Church resources were shared with the congregations. In November, the last of our Five Marks off Mission sessions was about the fifth mark - “To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth.” and we were pleased to welcome Revd Sandra Eldridge, the Chelmsford Diocesan Environmental Officer to speak to us.
With her permission here are some of the things she told us about. It is still possible to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius and avoid the very worst of climate change. But only with dramatic, immediate climate action......... Approximate per capita carbon emissions: UK 10 tonnes Kenya 0.4 tonnes Somalia 0.04 tonnes Exxon disputed climate findings for years. Its scientists knew better. The richest 10% produce about half of greenhouse gas emissions.
“Our present ecological crisis, the biggest single threat to our human existence in the middle to long term, has, religious people would say, a great deal to do with our failure to think of the world as existing in relation to the mystery of God, not just a huge warehouse of stuff to be used for our convenience.” ROWAN WILLIAMS
“It has been a thoughtless, heartless, greedy plunge into what apparently is still considered an inexhaustible supply.” WENDELL BERRY in the preface to DAVIS, SCRIPTURE, CULTURE & AGRICULTURE
“Stop waste. Stop waste of any kind. Stop wasting power, stop wasting food, stop wasting plastic. Don't waste, this is a precious world. Celebrate and cherish.” DAVID ATTENBOROUGH
Sandra also shared this prayer is based on St Francis’ Canticle of the Sun
Be praised, my Lord, through Brother Sun, who brings the light of day; He’s beautiful and radiant, like you! Be praised, my Lord, through Sister Moon, Through all her sister stars. They’re luminous and wonderful, like you! Be praised, my Lord, through Brother Wind And Sister Cloud and Storm. They bring flowers from Mother Earth for you. Be praised, my Lord, through Brother Bird; You gave him wings to fly. He sings with joy and soars up high for you. Through Sister Water, Lord, be praised;She’s humble, useful, too. She’s precious, clear and pure, O Lord, like you. Be praised, my Lord, through Brother Fire, Whose beauty glows at night. He’s cheerful, powerful, and strong, like you. Be praised through all those who forgive, The patient, kind, and brave, Enduring suffering, trial, and pain, like you. Be praised, my Lord, through Sister Death, Who will embrace all life, And carry us up to the arms of you....
If you would like to get involved with our efforts on behalf of the environment please speak to one of our Environment Committee or email Revd Sue (sue.wise@sky.com).
If you would like to know more about Eco Church and A Rocha do have a look at the website. www.arocha.org.uk where you can navigate to Eco Church, or maybe you would like to add your voice to one of the campaigns?
A Rocha UK backs the Nature 2030 campaign https://arocha.org.uk/a-rocha-uk-backs-the-nature-2030-campaign/
August 2023
Quiet Day ‘Creation’
We enjoyed a Quiet Day in St Mary’s in May celebrating ‘Creation’ and taking the opportunity to explore the two churchyard areas around the church and hall. Beginning and ending with giving thanks for Creation we reflected on the diversity and the wonder of the nature around us.
We planted seeds and tried to identify as many of the plants in the churchyards as possible. At least one person has tended their seed well and a beautiful sunflower has grown.
WICKFORD WILDLIFE’S MOTH NIGHT AT ST MARY’S
On Friday 23rd August our good friends Wickford Wildlife held a ‘Moth Night’ at St Mary’s. “We set up a light outside the church hall and two traps in the old graveyard. Weather was warm and a bit breezy at times but was dry and pretty good for moths. Lights went on about 8.30pm and we soon started seeing moths, with a Gypsy Moth being the first on the list. The action was pretty steady throughout the evening with many species coming to the light, including such beauties as Jersey Tiger, Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, Orange Swift and Yellow Shell. Around 10.30pm we decided to check the traps in the old graveyard. The trap under the large oaks did not have many moths – a solitary Jersey Tiger but had lots of very interesting Acorn Weevils! However, the trap in the middle of the graveyard was completely full of moths including a fantastic Elephant Hawk Moth. Overall, we identified 31 moth species plus a few other interesting things.” With thanks to Martin Singleton for organising the evening, taking the photos and collating the finds. They plan on coming back again next year!
Some of the species found that evening: Angle Shades; Box Tree Moth; Brimstone Moth; Burnished Brass; Clay Triple-lines; Cloaked Minor; Codling Moth; Common Carpet; Common Wainscot; Dark Bordered Pearl; Dusky Thorn; Elephant Hawk-moth; Flame Shoulder; Gypsy Moth; Hawthorn Moth; Jersey Tiger; Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing; Oak Hook-tip; Orange Swift; Setaceous Hebrew Character; Silver Y; Small China-mark; Small Dusty Wave; Square-spot Rustic; Star-wort; Straw Underwing; The Clay; Vine's Rustic; Water Veneer; Willow Beauty; Yellow Shell.
Watch out for the survey results for the whole year, coming soon. With grateful thanks to Wickford Wildlife for all their support. If you are interested in joining them please do contact them, they are always open to new members. https://www.wickfordwildlife.co.uk/
Season of Creation Prayer 2024
Triune God, Creator of all, We praise you for your goodness, visible in all the diversity that you have created, making us a cosmic family living in a common home. Through the Earth you created, we experience love and nourishment, home and protection. We confess that we do not relate to the Earth as a Mothering gift from you, our Creator. Our selfishness, greed, neglect, and abuse have caused the climate crisis, loss of biodiversity, human suffering as well as the suffering of all our fellow creatures. We confess that we have failed to listen to the groans of the Earth, the groans of all creatures, and the groans of the Spirit of hope and justice that lives within us. May your Creator Spirit help us in our weakness, so that we may know the redeeming power of Christ and the hope found in him. May the groans of the Spirit birth in us a willingness to serve you faithfully, so that we may hear and heal Creation, to hope and act together with her, so that the first-fruits of hope may blossom. Loving and Creator God, we pray that you will make us sensitive to these groans and enable us to have the same compassion as that of Jesus, the redeeming Lord. Grant us a fresh vision of our relationship with Earth, and with one another, as creatures that are made in your image. In the name of the one who came to proclaim the good news to all Creation, Jesus Christ. Amen.
April 2024
On April 4th Wickford Wildlife came to have a look around our churchyards for the first time. They will be helping us survey the flora and fauna at various points throughout the year, particularly when we take part in ‘Love your Burial Ground, Churches Count on Nature’ week in June*.
Look what they found at St Catherine’s
From Martin Singleton. “…… we did find something interesting yesterday at St Catherine’s. In the church wall facing south there were several dark bees going into holes in the wall and I managed to get a photo of one of these. A quick google search and this is a Common Mourning Bee – something I had never heard of before. I think this is a female.
It has an interesting lifestyle, see below:
‘Mourning bees are unmistakable solitary bees with striking white spots down the sides of their abdomen. They are cleptoparasites which will invade the prestocked nests of their host, Hairy-footed flower bees (Anthophora plumipes) and lay their own eggs. The larvae hatch before the host’s and consume the competition as well as the stored pollen, ready to emerge as adults the following spring. Found in a wide variety of habitats, but especially where its host is nesting in high densities. Urban greenspaces, parks, gardens and soft cliff faces are good places to look out for them. They feed from a wide variety of spring blossoms, such as apples and cherries, and can also be seen feeding on dandelions, gorse, wallflower, rosemary, and kidney vetch. Commonly found where its host occurs and following its host’s spread northwards. Current distribution covers most of southern Britain with records up to Yorkshire, although this species is scarcer in the southwest of England and Wales.’ (Source - Bumblebee Conservation Trust) We can also reasonably assume that the churchyard contains Hairy Footed Flower Bees, and we will have to look for these next time. Quite appropriate to find a Mourning Bee in a churchyard too!” *
Environment News January 2024
We are delighted to share that all three of our churches have now received the Bronze Eco-Church Award. We are now all looking forward to working towards the Silver award.
Watch out for events that you will be able to join us in during ‘Love your Burial Ground and Churches Count on Nature’ week, Saturday 8th to Sunday 16th June. We will be teaming up with Wickford Wildlife to complete wildlife surveys in our churchyards over the year, and particularly as part of that week.
You can find out more about the week here:
Video – Love Your Burial Ground Week – Caring For God's Acre – the conservation charity for burial grounds across the UK
caringforgodsacre.org.uk
and more about Wickford Wildlife here:
The Wickford Wildlife Society was formed in 1984 and offers local people the chance to see indoor wildlife presentations on a wide variety of topics and visit some of the excellent nature reserves and wildlife areas for which Essex is famous. Indoor meetings are held at St Andrews Church Hall, Wickford during the winter months, and Outdoor meetings take place during the spring and summer months normally on Sunday mornings. If you are interested in learning more about your local wildlife and visiting some of the excellent wildlife sites in Essex, please visit our website at www.wickfordwildlife.co.uk or email us at info@wickfordwildlife.co.uk.
November 2023
All our hall toilets are now ‘twinned’, with thanks to all those who donated for a copy of ‘The Vicarage Cat’ to help us raise the funds needed.
Throughout September and the first week of October we prayed in support of the Season of Creation which was a global call to prayer and action from all churches. The theme was ‘Let Justice and Peace Flow’, in recognition that it is in fact the poorest of countries who suffer the most because of climate change. During that time various tips and information from the Eco Church resources were shared with the congregations. In November, the last of our Five Marks off Mission sessions was about the fifth mark - “To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth.” and we were pleased to welcome Revd Sandra Eldridge, the Chelmsford Diocesan Environmental Officer to speak to us.
With her permission here are some of the things she told us about. It is still possible to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius and avoid the very worst of climate change. But only with dramatic, immediate climate action......... Approximate per capita carbon emissions: UK 10 tonnes Kenya 0.4 tonnes Somalia 0.04 tonnes Exxon disputed climate findings for years. Its scientists knew better. The richest 10% produce about half of greenhouse gas emissions.
“Our present ecological crisis, the biggest single threat to our human existence in the middle to long term, has, religious people would say, a great deal to do with our failure to think of the world as existing in relation to the mystery of God, not just a huge warehouse of stuff to be used for our convenience.” ROWAN WILLIAMS
“It has been a thoughtless, heartless, greedy plunge into what apparently is still considered an inexhaustible supply.” WENDELL BERRY in the preface to DAVIS, SCRIPTURE, CULTURE & AGRICULTURE
“Stop waste. Stop waste of any kind. Stop wasting power, stop wasting food, stop wasting plastic. Don't waste, this is a precious world. Celebrate and cherish.” DAVID ATTENBOROUGH
Sandra also shared this prayer is based on St Francis’ Canticle of the Sun
Be praised, my Lord, through Brother Sun, who brings the light of day; He’s beautiful and radiant, like you! Be praised, my Lord, through Sister Moon, Through all her sister stars. They’re luminous and wonderful, like you! Be praised, my Lord, through Brother Wind And Sister Cloud and Storm. They bring flowers from Mother Earth for you. Be praised, my Lord, through Brother Bird; You gave him wings to fly. He sings with joy and soars up high for you. Through Sister Water, Lord, be praised;She’s humble, useful, too. She’s precious, clear and pure, O Lord, like you. Be praised, my Lord, through Brother Fire, Whose beauty glows at night. He’s cheerful, powerful, and strong, like you. Be praised through all those who forgive, The patient, kind, and brave, Enduring suffering, trial, and pain, like you. Be praised, my Lord, through Sister Death, Who will embrace all life, And carry us up to the arms of you....
If you would like to get involved with our efforts on behalf of the environment please speak to one of our Environment Committee or email Revd Sue (sue.wise@sky.com).
If you would like to know more about Eco Church and A Rocha do have a look at the website. www.arocha.org.uk where you can navigate to Eco Church, or maybe you would like to add your voice to one of the campaigns?
A Rocha UK backs the Nature 2030 campaign https://arocha.org.uk/a-rocha-uk-backs-the-nature-2030-campaign/
August 2023
Quiet Day ‘Creation’
We enjoyed a Quiet Day in St Mary’s in May celebrating ‘Creation’ and taking the opportunity to explore the two churchyard areas around the church and hall. Beginning and ending with giving thanks for Creation we reflected on the diversity and the wonder of the nature around us.
We planted seeds and tried to identify as many of the plants in the churchyards as possible. At least one person has tended their seed well and a beautiful sunflower has grown.
|
|
|
Pet Service
In June we held a Pet Service in the North Churchyard at St Mary’s. We were watched by the Vicarage Cat who hid behind a memorial stone when he spotted the dogs. All the pets present, and a one by photo prosy, were given a blessing and the horse on the glebe and enjoyed the singing.
In June we held a Pet Service in the North Churchyard at St Mary’s. We were watched by the Vicarage Cat who hid behind a memorial stone when he spotted the dogs. All the pets present, and a one by photo prosy, were given a blessing and the horse on the glebe and enjoyed the singing.
September 1st to October 4th is the Season of Creation, a global, ecumenical initiative in response to the issues of both Climate and Racial Justice.
More information is available on the website www.seasonofcreation.org and from Chelmsford Diocese at https://www.chelmsford.anglican.org/about-us/our-faith-in-action/caring-for-the-environment/get-involved
A prayer for the Season of Creation
Creator of All, From your communion of love life sprung forth like a mighty river and the whole cosmos came into being.
On this Earth of overflowing love, the Word was made flesh and went forth with the life-giving waters proclaiming peace and justice for all creation.
You called human beings to till and keep your garden. You placed us into right relationship with each creature, but we failed to listen to the cries of the Earth and the cries of the most vulnerable. We broke with the flowing communion of love and sinned against you by not safeguarding the conditions for life.
We lament the loss of our fellow species and their habitats, we grieve the loss of human cultures, along with the lives and livelihoods that have been displaced or perished, and we ache at the sight of an economy of death, war and violence that we have inflicted on ourselves and on the Earth.
Open our ears to your creative, reconciling and sustaining Word that calls to us through the book of Scripture and the book of creation. Bless us once again with your life-giving waters so that the Creator Spirit may let justice and peace flow in our hearts and overflow into all creation.
Open our hearts to receive the living waters of God’s justice and peace, and to share it with our suffering brothers and sisters, all creatures around us, and all creation.
Bless us to walk together with all people of good will so that the many streams of the living waters of God’s justice and peace may become a mighty river all over the Earth.
In the name of the One who came to proclaim good news to all creation, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Revd Sue
More information is available on the website www.seasonofcreation.org and from Chelmsford Diocese at https://www.chelmsford.anglican.org/about-us/our-faith-in-action/caring-for-the-environment/get-involved
A prayer for the Season of Creation
Creator of All, From your communion of love life sprung forth like a mighty river and the whole cosmos came into being.
On this Earth of overflowing love, the Word was made flesh and went forth with the life-giving waters proclaiming peace and justice for all creation.
You called human beings to till and keep your garden. You placed us into right relationship with each creature, but we failed to listen to the cries of the Earth and the cries of the most vulnerable. We broke with the flowing communion of love and sinned against you by not safeguarding the conditions for life.
We lament the loss of our fellow species and their habitats, we grieve the loss of human cultures, along with the lives and livelihoods that have been displaced or perished, and we ache at the sight of an economy of death, war and violence that we have inflicted on ourselves and on the Earth.
Open our ears to your creative, reconciling and sustaining Word that calls to us through the book of Scripture and the book of creation. Bless us once again with your life-giving waters so that the Creator Spirit may let justice and peace flow in our hearts and overflow into all creation.
Open our hearts to receive the living waters of God’s justice and peace, and to share it with our suffering brothers and sisters, all creatures around us, and all creation.
Bless us to walk together with all people of good will so that the many streams of the living waters of God’s justice and peace may become a mighty river all over the Earth.
In the name of the One who came to proclaim good news to all creation, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Revd Sue
|
St Mary's Runwell has gained an Eco Church Bronze Award.
As part of this scheme run by A Rocha, churches complete the unique online Eco Survey about how they are caring for God’s earth in different areas of their life and work. The answers a church provides collect points towards an Eco Church Award – the more your church does, the more points you get!If a church's score doesn’t gain an Eco Church Award straight away don’t worry – the idea is to complete further actions in order to gain the points necessary for an Award. For example, switching to a green energy company or starting to use Fairtrade tea and coffee supplies to gain Eco Church Award points. The survey takes you through five key areas of church life:
|
Eco Church
|
Bug HotelBug hotels provide hidey-holes for creatures galore. Building a bug hotel (also known as a wildlife hotel or stack) in your garden or churchyard can provide a safe hideaway for wildlife and help make use of your garden waste. A well-built hotel can shelter anything from hedgehogs to toads, solitary bees to bumblebees, and ladybirds to woodlice. You can build your bug hotel at any time of year, but you might have the most natural materials such as straw, dry grass and hollow plant stems in autumn.
|
Wildlife AreaThis area of our churchyard has been left uncut to encourage wildlife, insects and fauna.
|