Even if we don’t want to think about it, most of us know that climate change is the greatest threat to our world, potentially more dangerous than terrorism, bird flu or economic disaster. If predictions are true, or even half true, how will it affect us in our safe, serene villages? What, if anything, can we do about it?

In May 2005 at a workshop in Bury St. Edmunds Cathedral, the Conservation Association raised just these questions. Members of parishes and organisations from across the diocese were asked if sustainability is a priority for the church and, if it IS, how can individual churches be motivated to use their networks and good will in their communities to take the lead in encouraging greener lifestyles?

The programme included alarming evidence about how rapidly the world is being degraded by climate change alongside a Christian vision for a sustainable future. These major topics were reinforced with encouraging reports from parishes and groups in other areas which are already fighting complacency and getting started on really practical projects which make it easy to put “green” good intentions into practice. Numerous bright ideas are out there, waiting to be copied, ranging from community wide solar schemes, group re-cycling efforts for furniture and tools, transforming overgrown churchyards into wildlife habitats, and using church porches as collection points for used batteries or computer cartridges. Common threads holding these ideas together include:

• church and wider community working together.
• making the most of existing green options – local shops, buses, allotments, recycling banks…..and lots more.
• pulling in local people who are willing to share their knowledge and skills around green issues.
• not being deterred by the nightmare scenario, but having a go with small projects, building up to more ambitious schemes as the ideas and enthusiasm take off.

A pensioner in a village in Devon, which is pledged to go carbon neutral, spoke on the BBC last month about being part of a community-wide revolution. He said “Gettng involved with my neighbours in this green project has turned this into the best time of my life.”

Could we get things moving in similar ways in our parishes of Leavenheath, Polstead and Stoke by Nayland? We believe its worth a try - that with church and community working together we could build up active Green Teams and make a real difference.

Early 2006 we plan to hold an open meeting with help from an environmental professional who will guide us on how to move forward. In the meantime we invite anyone who has questions and ideas or skills to offer, to get in touch with any one of us. Mary Murray 01206 262389 Ruth Riddlestone 01206 262631, June Smith 01206 263225, Carol Lindsay Smith 01206 263670.