Dear MK Eco Church Network friends,
This last Update for 2025 is not as full as some recent updates, but the items are all important with several looking back at successes over the year and others looking forward to 2026.
Please do share this Update with other people who may be interested.
I wish you a very happy and blessed Christmas,
Stuart Kean
MK Eco Church Network Convenor
email: mkecnetwork@ctmk.church
Events
Milton Keynes Parks Trust Community Litter Pick - Wednesday 17th December at 10.30 at Shenley Wood. For details see: https://www.theparkstrust.com/
Date for the Diary. Big Garden Birdwatch: 23rd – 25th January 2026 - The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is organising the annual Big Garden Birdwatch between 23rd – 25th January 2026. 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-
Resources
Green Christian has a list of activities under the title: “Reclaim Christmas” which suggests what we can do in church services to celebrate both Advent and Christmas in a more environmentally friendly way. To find out more click here: https://greenchristian.org.uk/
A Rocha has also produced “Our twelve tips for a greener Christmas” which has suggestions for how individuals and families can celebrate Christmas more sustainably: https://arocha.org.uk/our-
Environment Days 2026 Calendar - The Church of England Environment Programme has produced this very helpful interactive 2026 Environment Days Calendar to help spot opportunities to link in church environmental events and action.
Deciding on New Year’s resolutions for Local Actions in 2026 - Earlier this year Carbon Copy, comprising several leading environmental organisations, produced a very useful online tool 25 big-thinking, local climate actions for 2025 to help people decide what the biggest change possible they could make in their a local areas. As you may be making some New Year’s resolutions over the next few weeks, I’m re-sending a link to this tool which will help you reflect on 3 questions: what do I care about most? what am I good at? and what needs doing in my local area?
Good News Stories
‘The hymn books have sung again’: sustainability at St Mary’s, Tetbury - A church in the Diocese of Gloucester has found an imaginative and environmentally friendly solution to what to do with old hymn books. With help from their local Men’s Shed they have transformed the hymn book pages into angels, hedgehogs, wreaths, and other seasonal decorations. Read the full article.
Church Commissioners for England issue reports on climate goals and sustainability -The Church Commissioners for England have recently released two reports about sustainability and climate change. The first is the Climate Action Plan, reporting on how it has met its 2020-25 climate goals, and setting out 2030 climate goals to support its net zero commitment. The second is a report on real assets sustainability, which highlights the progress the team has made since publishing its 2023 report while showcasing the scale of the portfolio and how sustainability runs through each project.