Kairos recognises the climate emergency that we are in across the planet and we are committed to playing our part in moving towards environmentally sustainable practices and policies alongside the Church of England’s Net Zero target. We have a small team of people who are helping us to work towards this goal.
We currently hold a Bronze Eco Award as recognised by A Rocha and we are actively working towards our Silver Award. If you would like to contact the team, please email us at ecoteam@kairoschurch.net
Latest Updates…
September Eco Events
Free Online Carbon Literacy Course starting Wednesday 10th SeptemberProvided by the Diocese of Leeds this 5 session course is accredited by the Carbon Literacy Project. It is designed to help Christians think through their response to climate change.As more and more workplaces are getting their staff to do a Carbon Literacy course this could be […]
Eco-friendly gardening tips
Heather, one of the Kairos eco team and a keen gardener, shares some tips for environmentally friendly gardening: Avoid ‘over-cultivating’: Save yourself some time and effort AND be kind to the wildlife: – mow less frequently – embrace ‘weeds’ or maybe allow an area to grow wild – leave fallen leaves, stems, seed heads and […]
Denton Reserve – a place of hope
On Sunday 2nd February, Catherine Burrage shared with us about her involvement in the Denton Reserve Rewilding project. On this large estate in Yorkshire, the regeneration and recovery of nature is being prioritised. Catherine has been part of the team redesigning the way the grounds and house are managed, promoting responsible food production, diverse and […]
Yorkshire premiere: Local filmmakers take centre stage in inspiring climate action film screening
Harrogate, 9th July 2025 – Two powerful films; one urgent message. As part of Net Zero Week (5-12th July), Zero Carbon Harrogate is proud to host a special double screening on Wednesday 9th July at Harrogate Odeon Cinema in partnership with the Harrogate Film Society.The evening will host the Yorkshire Premiere of “No One is […]
On Valentine’s Day (February 14th), we show the special people in our lives how much we care for them. However, traditional Valentine’s Day gifts can add up to a lot of waste and environmental harm*.
But there are environmentally-friendly ways to celebrate your love for family, friends AND the planet – here are some suggestions:
– Make a card, rather than buying one. (It doesn’t have to be a work of art – the fact that you’ve spent time and effort creating it will make it special.)
– Use your LOAF to cook a delicious meal. (LOAF refers to ingredients that are Locally grown, Organic, Animal-friendly and Fairtrade.)
– Spend some quality time together doing something you both enjoy. (For example, go for a walk / play board games / go to the theatre / volunteer to help at an event / make cookies to share … )
For those who like to give and receive gifts, here are some ideas:
– Buy a plant (or bulbs/seeds) for your loved-one, rather than cut flowers.
– If giving chocolate, choose a fairtrade, eco-friendly brand.
– If you like to give toiletries, try a plastic-free option, (eg shampoo bars).
– Choose your gift from a charity shop.
– Buy something useful, such as an eco-friendly alternative to a household item, e.g. wax wraps to replace cling-film / a reusable coffee cup or water bottle…
– Make a donation to charity or buy a gift for a family in poverty via a charity website. (You can wrap up a note to tell your loved one what you’ve donated on their behalf.)
– Use recyclable wrapping paper or be creative with your wrapping by using old magazines, maps, pieces of fabric or a tea towel tied with a ribbon.
* According to Plastic Oceans, this one celebration contributes 9 million kilograms of CO2 into the atmosphere per year. If that isn’t scary enough, here are some more shocking statistics. Those heart-shaped balloons take almost 450 years to degrade along with gifts made from glitter. Surprisingly, the gift with the most environmental impact is cut flowers since most are imported from different countries and are generally produced in greenhouses fuelled by natural gas.
RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch
Connect Community are hosting an event linked to the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch. All are welcome to join in!
2025
We have some ambitious plans for the coming year, including:
- an eco-themed swop shop for unwanted toys, books, clothes and other items which might otherwise go to landfill.
- a focus on helping church members to take more informed personal lifestyle choices around the environment.
- working towards new windows and door in the offices
- an event focused around the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch in January.
- helping church members with an interest in a particular environmental focus to share their passion, skills and ideas with the rest of the church e.g. gardening, energy, food waste etc.
- exploring becoming a Fairtrade Place of Worship with the Fairtrade Foundation.
- and more!
2024
Some of our activities over 2024 included:
- collecting over 60 pairs of glasses and sunglasses for recycling and reuse.
- improving our general recycling collections in our buildings.
- offered a blister pack collection for recycling.
- installed better heating controls in our building so that they match room use.
- installed swift boxes at the rear of the hall
- planned some environment-themed worship and prayer gatherings
- looked into buying more eco-friendly resources for the church.