2026
We opened The Buzz Zone. A place to pause, play and reflect on God’s creation. In the spring of 2025 we set out to transform our drab, uninviting and unsafe courtyard into a colourful space, where people of all ages are invited. A lot happened in a relatively short space of time – the paths were resurfaced, and a working group was formed to develop a plan and make decisions bout the design and content of the space. We wanted to ensure that the space reflected out Eco Church commitments and make sure we were using eco-friendly, sustainable products where possible. The items purchased include;
BENCHES – made from over 1,000 2 litre plastic bottles
SHED – from a company that promotes sustainable timber
WOODEN PLANTERS – made from ethically sourced timber, and planted with pollinator friendly plants
WATER BUTT – to collect rainwater for watering plants
METAL PATION TABLE & CHAIRS – fully recyclable
PLANT POTS – made from recycled plastic, and filled with peat free soil
WATER FEATURE – 2nd hand, saved from landfill and solar powered
WILLOW SCREENING IN THE GATES – a natural product
Our grateful thanks go to the following for grants and generous contributions towards the funding of this projects;
Bristol Methodist District, Bristol & South Gloucestershire Methodist Circuit, Horfield Methodist Church playgroup and Friends & members of Horfield Methodist Church
some pictures showing how it started and where we are now………..
In 2025
Members of the Eco group, along with some of our Children & Young People have constructed a bug village, with a few different sized hotels/houses. We have a hoverfly lagoon and water available for visiting wildlife.
We renewed our committment to Fairtrade.
We started a project to transform an unused courtyard into an interactive green space. The courtyard development will give us the outside space we desperately need. The aim is to make this a real Eco haven – accessed and used by all ages. It will be a chance for all to learn about, and get hands on with, issues, including those, that local pollinators face. This will give us an opportunity to show, through the inclusion of relevant bible texts and messages (on the information boards), that to love God, is to love and care for his creation
In September 2025 Horfield members spent an hour in and around the local community litter picking. The picture below shows the amount collected in just one hour!
Ongoing Activities/Actions
We hold 2 Eco themed coffee mornings every year and invite the wider community.
A minimum of 3 worship services every year are dedicated to the environment and issues relating to the Climate crisis.
We carried out a full environmental audit of the premises in 2023.
We monitor our carbon footprint annually and offset our footprint through Climate Stewards – ARocha charity.
There is a Christmas card scheme every year to encourage the reduction in cards handed out.
We use an ink cartridge recycling system and donate funds from this to Climate Stewards directly.
Members of our Eco Group have engaged with our local MP on issues relating River Pollution and we also sign petitions and raise awareness of national and international campaigns that are ongoing.
We are a registered Fairtrade Church and are proud to serve Fairtrade tea, coffee and sugar.
Previous years achievements
2024
We switched to a Green Energy contract with Yu Energy. A Community Litter pick was held on 13th June attending by volunteers from both Horfield and Bishopston.
2023
A decision taken to change our 2nd Eco charity from Grow Wilder to Earthwatch Tiny Trees project. 2 Bird boxes to attract Wrens and Robins were installed. The group agreed that we would focus on Fairtrade and River/Water pollution issues/campaigns this year. Wild flower seeds were planted in a small area of the grass – these came from Yarley Meadows, a site of special scientific interest in Gloucestershire. A successful litter pick of the surrounding area took place.
2022
We committed to offsetting our carbon footprint going forward and chose ARocha as our offset charity. A draught audit of the premises was carried out. A commitment was made to having a couple of Eco themed worship services every year. The planting of pollinators/eco-friendly plants started. We held our first Eco themed coffee morning and donated 50% of the money raised to Grow Wilder. A guest speaker from Grow Wilder also came along to our Eco themed worship service in September. Exposed pipes were lagged and the office insulated – thanks to a grant from the Quartet Community Foundation. We committed to registering as a Fairtrade church.
2021
It was in 2021 that we started our journey as an Eco Church. Our first actions were to form a garden group to manage the land and to set up an exclusive Eco noticeboard to explain our ongoing aims and achievements. Our carbon footprint was calculated and we started to look for environmental charities we could support.