Acting for nature with Scargill House

On Tuesday 2 May, Scargill House, one of our Partners in Action, located in the scenic Yorkshire Dales, hosted our first Act for Nature event of 2023. A Rocha UK supporters and friends travelled from across Yorkshire and beyond to participate in a day of practical conservation and a shared campaign activity, and to be inspired and equipped by each other in beautiful surroundings.

After welcome refreshments in the reception, Scargill’s Director, Phil Stone, and estate team member Anna Reilly formally greeted the group of 25 in Scargill’s stunning chapel. Participants then split into smaller groups to build habitat piles (to support invertebrates) in various locations around the estate.

The physical conservation work certainly worked up an appetite for lunch, which gave participants time to join Scargill’s community prayers, explore more of Scargill’s 90 acres or chat and share experiences of caring for creation in their own communities (very important for those feeling alone in this journey).

The afternoon session saw Wild Christian Coordinator Jen Plummer challenging everyone to think about what stirs them up and encouraging everyone to use their gifts to speak up for nature (with loving persistence of course!). There was time to learn about Zero Hour’s campaign and to support it by writing postcards to our MPs about the Climate and Ecology Emergency Bill. If enacted, this proposed new law will ensure that the UK addresses the climate and nature crises together. Following the postcard activity, participants broke into smaller groups to watch and identify birds at the feeding stations or to enjoy a nature ID walk around the grounds.

Our Act for Nature events aim to inspire and equip participants – to do something positive for nature and to campaign to protect it back at home. They are more than nice days out, they are ‘good news for creation’ events and our hope is that participants will spread that good news in multiple communities around the UK. These events are a great way to meet other A Rocha UK supporters, staff and volunteers. The next Act for Nature events are at Highgrove Church, Bristol, on 24 June (register here) and Wolf Fields, Southall, West London, on 16 September (register here). Other Act for Nature events are in the pipeline.

Thanks are due to Scargill House and other Partners in Action (including our own reserves), and to Eco Churches across the UK, for hosting these events. We couldn’t do it without you.