Dear MK Eco Church Network friends
Greetings! I hope you’ve enjoyed the summertime break. As we start changing seasons, there seems to be a lot of things going on and this September Update is full of interesting events, actions, information and funding opportunities.
Please do share this Update with other people who may be interested.
Thanks and best wishes
Stuart Kean
MK Eco Church Convenor
email: mkecnetwork@ctmk.church
Events
- Monday 15 Sept 2025 at 10.30am at Lodge Lake
- Tuesday 28 October, at 10.30am Family litter pick at Broughton Brook
- Monday 10 November at 10.30 am at MK Rose
- Wednesday 17 December at 10.30 at Shenley Wood.
Service at the Tree Cathedral, Sunday 21 September at 4.00pm at the Tree Cathedral, Pagoda Roundabout West, MK15 9ED. The service will be arranged by the Stantonbury Ecumenical Partnership and will include music performed by the Bradwell Silver Band.
Sustainable Living Exhibition, 25 September, 1.30-4.00 at the Church of Christ the Cornerstone. We Are The Iroko & Acornfields Community Interactions will be hosting a Sustainable Living Series Exhibition, together with the Eco Church Group at the Church of Christ the Cornerstone.
Date for your diary! The next MK Eco Church Network meeting will be held on 11th October from 10.00am - 12.30pm at St Mary’s Bletchley. The first half of the meeting we’ll hear from the Eco Church Group at St Mary’s Church about their experiences of becoming a Bronze level Eco Church. The second half of the meeting will include short talks and discussion on the theme of “From energy audits to action plans”. I’m delighted to say that we’ll have several speakers including Hannah Mann, who is Environmental Programme Manager for the Oxford Diocese and there will be 2 speakers with specialist knowledge of the processes of replacing gas boilers with heat pumps at St Frideswide’s and St Mary’s Bletchley.
Action
- The Parks Trust needs your help grow oak trees for Milton Keynes’ woodlands -There’s a bumper crop of acorns this year which means our Acorn Collection campaign is back! To take part, you’ll need to collect acorns from Howe Park, Shenley or Linford Wood and plant them at home in pots. We will need you to care for the saplings before dropping off for planting in Winter 2026/27. Over 950 oak trees have already been planted as part of this project which first launched in 2020. Thank you to everyone who has got involved so far! Find out more and register: https://www.theparkstrust.com/
our-work/biodiversity/nature- activities/acorn-collection/? mc_cid=dde00c5434&mc_eid= 475976afcd
Advocacy
- Lobby Week 13-20 September - Act Now, Change Forever - The Climate Coalition is coordinating a Lobby Week from 13-20 September, encouraging everyone across the country to meet their local MP and ask them to take action on behalf of nature and the climate. They have lots of resources such as advice on how to write to your MP and how to plan for the meeting. This week is also an excellent opportunity to continue supporting the Climate and Nature Bill, with specific asks for your MP from the Zero Hour campaign
Information
- The Great Switch for Creation - If every church in the Oxford Diocese switched their electricity tariff to a renewable tariff, we could reduce total church-related carbon emissions by at least 15%. It's a small but significant step to ensuring a cleaner, fairer future. There are 239 churches that are on a renewable electricity tariff, according to data from the Energy Footprint Tool (2024). Your church can make the switch too. The Church of England has developed a robust definition for a green energy tariff and have compiled a list of suppliers that meet this criteria. This list will be updated annually.
- Funding opportunities for net zero and environmental grant funding - Some useful information courtesy of Hannah Mann, Environment Programme Manager with the Oxford Diocese.
- Awards for All - From the National Lottery, Awards for All funds community-led projects that improve the environment and help people connect with and enjoy nature where they live. Apply by 17 December 2025.
- Branching Out Fund - The Tree Council’s Branching Out Fund is a small grants fund to support a new season of community tree planting. Designed for community groups, schools, not-for-profits, residents associations, Tree Warden Networks, charities and more. Full eligibility criteria and details on their website, apply by 14 November 2025.
- Fundraising ideas for a community space - Investigate these 12 ways to create revenue streams for your community space. From renting out parking spaces and rooms to crowdfunding and corporate sponsorship.
- Local community funds for environmental works - Depending on where you are in the diocese, and the extent of your community-facing work, you could be eligible for funding from:
- Energy Resilience Fund - nationwide
- Thrive Renewables Community Fund - Parts of Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
- Gawcott Bee Green Fund – Buckinghamshire
- Met Office State of the Climate 2024 report - A handy 5-minute video summarising the headlines from the report, which, although sobering, seems to be being taken seriously by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
- Beware of greenwashing - The Which? magazine shared an enlightening article on how to be more aware of greenwashing in the marketing of products. Watch out for unsubstantiated claims, vague language, focusing on one element, not clarifying offsetting claims, and/or stating an industry standard as an environmental benefit.
- Net zero carbon forum, Thursday 9 October, 1-2pm - Join other churches in the diocese seeking to progress their plans for decarbonisation – hear their learnings, advice, and top tips! All welcome, wherever you are on the journey. Register to join.
- All about solar panels, Wednesday 22 October, 1-2.30pm - Hosted by the Oxford Diocese Church Buildings Team and the Environment Team, this webinar will bust some myths about installing solar panels, share some case studies and answer your questions. Register to join.
- Free schools’ resources launched - Christian Aid has launched resources for schools to help children – both secondary and primary – think about what human actions contribute towards climate change, and what steps they can take to reduce that impact. The Fume free Futures resources include a video, assembly kit, poster and a game. Download resources for your school.