Big Garden Birdwatch: 24th – 26th January 2025
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is organising the annual Big Garden Birdwatch between 26th -28th January 2025. It is the world’s largest garden wildlife survey. Every year, hundreds of thousands of nature lovers take part, helping to build a picture of how garden birds are faring. Take time out to enjoy the amazing beauty of ‘The Birds of the Air’. For information about how to take part, checkout the RSPB website: https://www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happening/big-garden-birdwatch/faqs Please contact me if you’d like a document I’ve prepared for reflection and prayers about birdlife.MK Climate Action Network workshop: “Community partnership with the local councils for the environment” - Sunday 2nd February 2025 between 2.15 to 5.00pm at Cornerstone Church
I’d encourage you to attend the workshop that the MK Climate Action Network is organising about “Community partnership with the local councils” with a focus on environmental and climate change issues. The workshop will be held at Cornerstone Church on Sunday, 2 February, 2025 between 2.15 to 5.00pm. The workshop objectives are to understand how MK’s City Council and parish councils make decisions and to identify how community members can help councils and contribute to climate change policy in 2025. Please register to attend: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/climate-action-partnership-with-the-local-councils-tickets-1118937124059?aff=erelexpmlt
C of E Energy Footprint Tool open
The C of E’s Energy Footprint Tool (EFT) opened on 13th January to gather 2024 data on energy use from churches. This simple tool provides a carbon footprint calculation for your church and allows you to track changes. The data is essential to the national Church and our diocese's carbon footprint calculations. The Energy Footprint Tool webpage provides the link to the tool in Parish Returns, provides instructions and also answers a number of FAQs.
Environment Days 2025 Calendar
See this 2025 Environment Days Calendar to help spot opportunities to link in church environmental events and action.
25 Big Local Actions in 2025
Carbon Copy share details of 25 big-thinking, local climate actions for 2025 to help create the biggest change possible in a local area. Their website is also searchable by location for resources and stories to inspire. There is a linked podcast too.
Climate and Nature (CAN) Bill - https://www.zerohour.uk/climate-and-nature-bill/
A last push is needed to get the CAN Bill over the line. The target of over 100 MPs pledging to support the second reading was met in December but they all need to turn up on Friday 24 January to support it in person. Currently, none of Milton Keynes 3 MPs has signed-up to support the CAN Bill, even though they may agree with it in principle. Please Look up your MP and write to ask them to attend on 24th January and support the Bill’s Second Reading.
East West Rail consultation
An online consultation open until Friday 24th January invites feedback on the proposals for the new railway (from Oxford to Cambridge via Bedford and Bletchley).
The next MK Eco Church Network meeting will be held at Queensway Methodist Church in Bletchley Saturday 5th April 2025. Please make a note of this date in your diaries.
Stuart Kean
MK Eco Church Convenor
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Climate