Nine churches in the city of Sheffield have received free gardening tools courtesy of Spear and Jackson Tools Ltd as part of an initiative to support organisations working to improve access to nature.
Nature Recovery Sheffield (NRS) are a movement of organisations supporting nature recovery in the city, led by Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust. The Diocese of Sheffield are a partner alongside other organisations and businesses across the city. Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust (SRWT) are currently undertaking a three year, Nature Recovery Sheffield, project to support community organisations to improve access to nature and have partnered with Spear and Jackson Ltd to offer free tools to groups as part of this important work.
The Churches who received the tools are all active in managing and maintaining their land for nature protection and recovery and many are in the middle of projects to expand their work. Margaret Ainger, Diocese of Sheffield Eco Church Champion and Lucy Graham, Communities Officer at SRWT, recently delivered tools to 5 of the churches who shared their stories.
St Mary’s Handsworth
St Mary’s has an impressive church garden, which they are developing to manage for nature. The church was recently visited by the Nature Recovery Sheffield team to advise on this. They have recently recruited new volunteers (although are always looking to welcome others!) and look forward to developing their plans.
Father Keith Johnson, Rector of St Marys:
“Gardening is much easier with the right tools. Thank you to Spear & Jackson for the tools donated to the community garden at St Mary’s Handsworth. We are in the process of trying to improve the garden to make it more accessible and inviting, encouraging our volunteers and wanting to provide an opportunity for growing and pottering to others, like the dementia café members, to aid well-being and growing their own veg or flowers. These tools will aid us with this project.”
The Vine Sheffield
Already an active Eco Church, the Vine has established a community garden and are working on a project to expand the garden by developing a plot of land that is currently unused. Emma and Ruth, volunteer gardeners, said that they have a lot of conversations with passers-by as they work and they see it as an important part of the outreach work of the church.
Community Garden Leader Emma Wynters:
“We are so grateful for the incredibly kind donation of tools and equipment here at The Vine Sheffield. They will be put to use immediately in our aim to continue working on improving our environmental stewardship, and our vision of creating a thriving, safe and welcoming space for people in the church and the local community to rest, connect and share.”
St Mary’s Bramall Lane
St Mary’s is located on a very busy road in Sheffield but is an important site for nature with many mature trees. They have a volunteer gardening group who work to manage and maintain the site. Projects include growing their own sustainable flowers for special services such as weddings and baptisms and growing their own vegetables for their weekly community meal.
St Peters and St Oswalds
Serving the area around Abbeydale Road, St Peters and Oswalds have a large area of land which is managed by a volunteer group for nature. There are plans to do more and the free garden tools will support this work.
St Paul’s Norton Lees
St Paul’s has an active project to use land for nature and for growing food to support their work to cook meals for members of the local community who are in need. Nature projects include bug hotels, wildlife boxes and a mowing plan to leave unmown banks. They are looking to further expand this work.
Other churches to receive tools were: St John’s Park, Christ Church Hillsborough and Wadsley Bridge, St Chad’s Woodseats and St Peter’s Greenhill.
Margaret Ainger, Eco Church Champion, Diocese of Sheffield:
“It was such a joy to deliver garden tools to Sheffield Churches who are actively working on their land for the good of nature, their congregations and their communities. The best part was meeting people and being shown the amazing work already being done and hearing about ambitious plans for the future. Inspirational! All the churches are working to support local people who are struggling with the cost of living and many are also growing food and herbs to supplement the communal meals they are offering. The churches were delighted to receive this support and thank Spear and Jackson Ltd, who have generously supplied tools to these 9 churches.”
