Signs of Spring, 2025, in the churchyard:

Our churchyard seating was made and installed by HMP Northumberland’s Oswin Project for ex-offenders.  The benches are made from storm salvaged wood and afford a very comfortable view of the churchyard, especially of the budding saplings, and the snowdrops and aconites and other signs of spring.

The two church bee colonies were combined into one hive over the winter for warmth, and appear to be thriving.  The hive will be twinned this year through Bees Abroad which helps provide sustainable agriculture in areas of Africa stricken by poverty.  We are grateful to Berwick Slow Food for initiating this project.  See future events page for our fundraising plans.

 

Bees Abroad | Sustainable Beekeeping, Food and Social Justice.      https://beesabroad.org.uk/

September 2024

The Rt Revd Mark Wroe, Bishop of Berwick led a service of blessing for the recently installed solar panels on the roof of Berwick Parish Church on Sunday 22nd September.  The service is available on the Holy Trinity Church, Berwick upon Tweed YouTube channel, complete with drone video footage of the intrepid Bishop on the church roof. Speaking to members of local churches and the wider community who joined the congregation, Bishop Mark’s address on the five marks of Christian mission was inspiring.

 

 

Commenting on the completion of the solar panel project, Church Environmental Champion, Mrs Anne Horne, said, “The congregation and wider community have embraced this and other eco projects at Berwick Parish Church, fulfilling the Fifth Mark of Mission, ‘to strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and to sustain the life of the earth’.  We owe it, not just to future generations, but to those most affected already by climate change, the poorest and most vulnerable worldwide, to reduce our emissions and show in practical ways, God’s care for us reciprocated by our care for his creation.”

 

PCC Lay Chair, Dr David Mason added, “The successful installation of solar panels on our church, thanks to the hard work and dedication of our Eco group is a testimony to their commitment and persistence and is a significant step in our journey to carbon neutrality.”

Bishop Mark blessing the solar panels

The PCC has agreed to match or ‘twin’ the church solar panels through Solar Aid; the charity enables homes, businesses, schools and health centres in sub-Saharan Africa to change from dangerous and toxic kerosene lamps and paraffin candles to solar power; this is sustainable change for people and planet. The cost will be met by the Eco Group fundraising planned for 2025. (See future events page.)     https://solar-aid.org/

2024 work on the wildflower area of the churchyard reaped a wonderful harvest for the churchyard bees and attracted a large number of insects. 

April 2024: Space for Shorebirds

At the time of writing, we have pairs of ringed plovers setting up territories all along the coast. They are battling it out with other breeding pairs for access to the best nesting locations where their eggs will be safe, and their chicks will find rich food to help them grow fast.

Many of you will have noticed that there has been large amounts of erosion this winter. Noticeably, many sand dunes have been weathered back to steep cliffs and we have lost a lot of the sand that usually makes up the gentle slope of the beach. It has been scoured out by the powerful crashing waves of the remarkable number of storms we have experienced this winter.    

Two plover eggs well camouflaged amongst the pebbles
A tiny ringed plover chick that hatched last summer
Unfortunately, this loss of beach height could be a worrying development for the birds looking to build their nests. Ringed plovers need to nest out in the open on bare patches of sand or shingle, where they make a small bowl-shaped scrape in which to lay their eggs. As such, these birds rely on open patches of beach that are high enough that they stay above the waves even on the highest tides. The loss of sand this year means that many suitable sites are now completely submerged by the tide, meaning the birds are under more pressure than usual to claim a safe nesting location.  

To give these birds a helping hand, remember to look out for our signs and fenced areas when on the beach and give them space so as not to disturb the birds. When walking past the nesting sites we also ask people to keep their dogs close by and watch out for chicks that will regularly wander outside the fences in search of food. Thanks for giving space to our shorebirds!
 
 
 

Count on Nature

The churchyard has been closed for burials since 1856 but it remains a beautiful green space in which flora and fauna flourish.  Our tree planting, wilding and wild life homes have, we hope, enhanced the area. Sparklers have contributed to the Eco Group June 2023 Count on Nature survey in the churchyard – thank you to Sparklers and to all volunteers. An increase in flora and fauna on the 2022 survey was recorded.
Follow the links below to look at the results.
2022
2023
2024
2025

Keep on Recycling

[Temporarily suspended]

Members of the congregation have been recycling empty tablet blister packs.

These would normally end up in landfill sites, but Superdrug are now acting as a drop off point for them to be recycled. We have just dropped off our first consignment!

To help the scheme, just drop your used blister packs in the box at the back of church. Every little helps.

As part of the church’s Eco initiatives, children from Holy Trinity Church of England First School planted an oak tree in memory of Queen Elizabeth II on 28th February. It was one of a number of native British saplings funded by Northumberland County Council and planted to replace older trees and to add to the biodiversity of the churchyard.

A Living, Green Churchyard

Annual surveys of flora and fauna in the churchyard have shown a steady increase in biodiversity in the churchyard through the church planting and wilding projects. 

Bird feeders; well used by a wide variety of small birds and, of course, the occasional squirrel.

Bird boxes made by parishioners and local school children.


A recycled owl box has been place carefully by a local expert and a webcam is trained on this area.



Hedgehog homes and bug hostels designed and made by the pupils of Longridge Towers School.




A sharp eyed parishioner has captured one resident hedgehog on camera. We hope to see more on our webcam.




A bat box is now in the far southeast corner.




Wilding has been increased with the creation of an area for wild flowers.

Broken branches, and other debris from this year’s storms and gales, have been added to the north perimeter bramble areas, to create additional habitats for wildlife.

Sixteen different species of birds have been seen in the churchyard in 2022; we expect this to increase following the November planting of seventeen native species trees, generously funded by Northumberland County Council. These have been planted and staked around the churchyard, with an additional group around a central Oak in the northeast corner. We hope this will develop into a haven for wildlife and and be enjoyed by all visitors.

Photographs courtesy of Sue Phillips

Photographs courtesy of Maurice McNeeley

Whoooo’s this for?

 

A new home has been installed in the churchyard which we hope will attract a Barn Owl, as they like the coastline. The owl box is recycled in materials and in use (it has come from a farm that didn’t want it any more). It may also attract Stock Doves or a Kestrel … or a Jackdaw!

 

Photographs courtesy of Maurice McNeely

The Apprentice Challenge

Young people aged 12 and 13 from Longridge Towers School were set a challenge along the lines of The Apprentice to identify an environmental need for Holy Trinity Churchyard, design and produce a solution and present it to a team of judges from the Eco group.   

It was very difficult selecting winners, but we now have a superb array of bug hotels and hedgehog houses/shelters to join the bug hotels made by Sparklers a few weeks ago. They will be strategically placed in the churchyard once we’ve all had chance to admire them. It was encouraging to see that they had all been made from recycled materials.

The winning team were presented with a webcam, which will be placed inside their hedgehog house and live streamed so the team can watch how it’s being used. Does their model remind you of anywhere?!

Reverend Ray Simpson has kindly donated and planted a Rowan tree to begin our churchyard regeneration project. As it grows we hope the Rowan berries will attract a variety of birds, especially Waxwings.

A wide selection of native trees were planted on Saturday 5th November, including Oak, Rowan, Hawthorn, Holly, Lime, Alder, Crab Apple, Wild Cherry, Hazel, Yew and Silver Birch, plus a Sweet Chestnut and a selection of shrubs.  The Crab Apple trees look particularly beautiful at present among the smaller trees surrounding a central Oak in the northeast corner.

 

The Eco Group are very grateful for the work of the volunteers involved in the digging and planting and for the generosity of Northumberland County Council in funding the entire project. Further volunteer help with the regular watering of the saplings would be hugely appreciated. Helen Mason is creating a rota and if this is something you might be willing to consider, please leave your name and contact details on the form at the back of the church or contact us.

 

In church the Blister Pack Recycling Box situated in the church foyer is filling fast – thank you to everyone for supporting this recycling project.  

Beach Cleans

 

 

One serious threat to wildlife is plastic in the sea.  From discarded fishing line entwining birds, fish and other marine life to tiny pieces that build up in the stomachs of marine creatures, small plastics are a serious problem.

 

Almost every weekend, a group meets for an hour or so to collect waste from our nearest beach.

 

Prayer for the environment

 

from the late great Desmond TuTu

 

Let oceans of justice flow, May we learn to sustain and renew the life of our Mother Earth. We pray for our leaders, custodians of Mother Earth;  May they act with compassion and courage, and lead us in the path of justice for the sake of our children and our children’s children. 

Thank you to everyone who took part in our Eco Survey.

The results are as follows:

 

– 67% of respondents compost garden waste

 

– 100% donate unwanted items to charity shops

 

– 90% purchase locally grown produce when available 

 

 

 

 

– 67% purchase environmentally friendly products.

 

– 100% use energy saving light bulbs

 

– 60% walk, cycle or use public transport each week

We are registered with the A Rocha charity as an Eco Church. A Rocha UK (Portuguese for the rock)  is a Christian charity working for the protection and restoration of the natural world and committed to equipping Christians and churches in the UK to care for the environment. The scheme provides tools and ideas to help churches integrate our concern for environmental issues into worship and teaching, management of church buildings and land, community engagement and lifestyle.

 

If you’d like to know more please contact Anne Horne, our environmental champion. Anne is a retired biology teacher with qualifications in Environmental Education, who has been working to raise awareness in young people since the 1980’s.

 

If anyone wants to know more about our work in the parish, please contact us to get in touch with Anne.

 

It’s up to each of us to love and to serve God’s planet, God’s creation, God’s people, in a Christ like way.  To ensure that our children, our grandchildren and their children can enjoy the continued beauty of our Earth.

Out and About
 

– Rural and coastal – what could be better! 

Leave those chores, enjoy Northumberland!

 

– Take time in our beautiful churchyard – admire the wild periphery; count the birds enjoying the feeders; breathe in the wonderful Northumberland air; be still in this sacred space.

 

At Home:
 

– Much in the news: “Vampire devices!” Televisions, microwaves, washing machines, printers…….. anything on standby is costing money. British Gas research estimates an average household saving of £147 a year; the Energy Saving Trust estimates a saving of £55. Figures vary but as prices increase savings can be made by switching off appliances at the plug.

 

 

Bird Boxes

Bird Boxes

Bird nesting boxes made from recycled wood have been placed in the churchyard, along with a bird feeding station. 

We hope Sparklers will be involved in the expansion of this project.

Litter picking

Litter picking

There are regular litter picks on our local beaches.  Keep an eye on ‘Friends of Little Pier Beach‘ for regular updates about organised litter picks. Please bring gardening or work gloves.