We’re overjoyed to share that St Michael’s Flax Bourton has been recognised with a Gold Eco Church award from A Rocha UK.

Even more exciting — St Michael's will be the first church in the Diocese of Bath & Wells, and the first in the whole of England and Wales under the new tougher Eco Church framework, to reach Gold!

Assessors praised our evident creativity and genuine passion for care of Creation and the authentic way this work threads through all of our worship, mission and governance, as well as connecting with the wider community and bringing different generations together.

They also noted the variety of innovative projects — from our nature lending library and seed exchange to our planned far infra-red Halo heating system, creative prayer and worship, and vibrant events where the whole community get involved.

Adrienne Hughes, Eco Church Lead, said:

'This has been a real labour of love for our whole church family. We’ve laughed, learned, planted, and planned together — and along the way discovered just how much joy there is in caring for Creation. We hope our story inspires others to give it a go.'

Since achieving the Bronze Eco-church award we have continued our work with the following actions which have enabled us to achieve the Silver Standard.

• We include environmental issues in our weekly prayers and have written a green prayer for our family of churches to share
• Community events such as Earth Day and the Michaelmas Market help us to highlight important issues such as repair, reduce, reuse, recycle, shop local etc.
• We are exploring more energy efficient ways to heat FB Church to reduce our carbon footprint and are looking at carbon off-setting schemes.
• We support several environmental charities including ARocha, Ripple Effect and Avon Wildlife Trust.
• We have increased recycling opportunities in the church and a kind donation enabled us to purchase a projector and screen which should assist us in reducing our reliance on new paper service books.
• The contemplative area to the back of the church now includes a fence of Hazel hurdles which will enable us to grow more plants to attract pollinating insects, as well as planters with herbs, seating area and crab apple tree.
• Our churchyard mowing regime has created islands and corridors of longer grass to increase biodiversity and we have planted a range of insect friendly flowers
• A bug hotel, bee brick, bird feeder and nest box also help improve the biodiversity of the churchyard.
• Invited our Green Party Ward/North Somerset Councillor to chat to people at Souper Lunch
• Included relevant environmental information in the weekly Church News Email

In the Autumn we will start our journey to the Gold Award alongside supporting Barrow Church to reach the Bronze Eco-church standard. Az

• Running an interactive eco-themed art exhibition and Sunday worship
• Ensuring intercessional prayers always include environmental issues
• Using recycled loo roll and environmentally friendly cleaning products
• Gaining Fairtrade church status
• Switching to a green electricity and gas tariff
• Including environmental issues on the church notice board and parish magazine
• Carrying out an energy audit of the church building
• Twinning the toilet with one in Africa
• Celebrating Earth Day with a community event which included a Bio-blitz of the churchyard, local traders and craftspeople.

Flushed with success Flax Bourton are now working towards the Silver Award by

• Developing the churchyard to include bug houses, nesting boxes, another tree, a pollinator patch, herb garden, small pond, bat box and peaceful sitting area.
• Seasons of Creation Study Group with an environmental theme
• Encouraging everyone to carry out a carbon footprint, lifestyle audit and think about how best to off-set our impact on the environment
• Exploring carbon-offsetting in relation to church energy use