The Durham Church wins the Golden Award Status for Ecological Efforts – BBC.com

A church that introduced bird boxes, hedgehog shedding and garden with wild flowers received a golden award for environmental status.

St. Stephen’s Church in Willington has implemented a set of projects, including the use of its churchyard for schools for nature paths for 18 months.

After St. Mary Magdalena Church, she is the second in the Durham Diocese, which receives the Eco Church Award from the Christian charity for nature conservation, A ROCHA UKS

St. Stephen said it was a “huge effort” with a “tireless contribution to people from our church and the wider community.”

In partnership with schools, the Greater Willington City Council and the Durham County Council, the project included planting 1500 bulbs of daffodils, flower beds into the greenery of Willington and transforming a former coal production.

The chairmen of the Commission David and Carol Parker said the identification of birds in the area has inspired the beginning of a test for local schools.

“We have helped each other to develop green spaces both within the church and in the broader community,” said Mr. Parker.

The Church Committee on the Environment added that volunteers helped to identify trees in the churchyard, including a rare black poplar.

The Reverend Clare Gibbs of the Durm Diocese said, “Now St. Stefan is becoming a source of information, support and inspiration for other churches in the diocese – from large to small.

Mrs. Parker said, “This trip will not stop with gold … We will continue to try to develop these projects.”