Halesowen church celebrates rare Eco Church Gold Award

A Halesowen church is inviting the community to celebrate after becoming one of only two churches in the Worcestershire Diocese to receive a prestigious Eco Church Gold Award.

St Margaret's Church in Hasbury will hold a special celebration service on Saturday, September 12, at 5pm, followed by refreshments and the opportunity for visitors to see the environmental improvements that helped secure the award.

The church is the first in the Greater Dudley Deanery to achieve the Eco Church Gold Award and only the second across the Diocese of Worcester.

The accolade follows more than three years of work to reduce the church's environmental impact and encourage wildlife.

Among the improvements is a new electric heating system, which the church says has cut the building's carbon footprint by more than 90 per cent while reducing running costs.

The church has also installed a "chatty bench" and planters to encourage people to stop and talk, while wildflower areas, bug hotels, bird boxes, insect homes and shallow water habitats have been created to support local wildlife. Three apple trees and a pear tree have also been planted.

The project has extended beyond the church grounds, inspiring pupils at the neighbouring primary school to form a team of "eco warriors". Following a successful fundraising campaign, the children will soon plant raised vegetable beds as their first environmental project.

As part of the award process, the church has also supported wider environmental initiatives, including bee and wildlife conservation, reducing plastic pollution in the world's oceans and projects in developing countries.

The Rev Victoria Barlow said: "We take great joy in our role in caring for God's creation and this award will further encourage us to continue our work for years to come."

Residents are invited to attend the celebration and find out more about the church's environmental work.