We have invited Grant Keenan to tell us recycling on Wednesday 29th May at the Acorn Centre Inverurie at 7:30pm. All Welcome!
Please click on the poster to make it larger.
The Eco-Congregation Scotland board welcomes Bill Craigie as its newest Director.
I came to serve on the Board largely by chance. At an ECS Annual Gathering it seemed that the fledgling Network in the Aberdeen area was in need of representation. The Board seemed equally keen for someone to fill the gap! Made welcome as a “fly on the wall” since 2011, I am now delighted to formally join the Board, especially as meetings in Edinburgh allow visits to family. Queens Cross Church is “home”, where our Eco Team are now working towards a third award. Membership of the SOC, SWT, WWF and especially the RSPB give a hint as to where my interests lie!
You can read about our other Directors on the Trustees page!
Skene Parish Church Eco Group sent out an appeal for any double knitting wool that was no longer required in order to knit some tea cosies for our church teapots! A huge amount of wool was received and three tea cosies so far have been made. At the same time one of our group members mentioned the Fish and Chips Babies project and that was all that was needed! Needles began clicking and wool was requested on a regular basis and we now have around 200 outfits ready for dispatch. And the ladies are still knitting!
The photo shows a display of some of the outfits on our new Eco Board in Trinity Church Westhill.
By Sheila Gray
An excellent activity in the European Week for Waste Reduction!
On Saturday 17 November, an enthusiastic group of folk from Skene Parish Church joined the Eco Group and gathered at a small piece of land next to Kirk Cottage in Kirkton of Skene to take part in a tree planting activity.
Skene Parish Church Eco Group were given a free Community Tree Pack of 105 tree saplings from the Woodland Trust as part of the charity’s Jubilee Woods Project. The Woodland Trust wants to mark Her Majesty The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee by helping millions of people across the UK to come together and plant 6 million trees across the country. The trees, all native species, will grow into a young wood in as little 10 years. Also included in the pack is a Royal Oak sapling, which has been grown from an acorn gathered from one of the Royal Estates.
Our hard working team of men, women and children, wielded spades and hammers and had the job done in no time at all – planted, staked and protectors fitted. The work was done under the expert eyes of Alison Sutherland, an Aberdeenshire Ranger and Graeme MacDonald.
The hard work completed, the workers were treated to hot drinks and, as we say in the North East, a ‘fine piece’ to eat.
The Eco group would like to thank all the volunteers who supported us in this venture. Over the next decade or so, it will be interesting to watch our woodland grow. In years to come, we will be able to bring our children and grandchildren along and show them what we helped to achieve in our little corner of the land.
By Sheila Gray
The report from the Mini-Gathering in Aberdeen held on the 22nd October is now available.
People from 13 congregations came to event, which aimed to inspire and equip congregations for their Eco-Congregation journey. Speakers from Cults Parish Church, Skene Parish Church and Queen’s Cross Parish Church shared their Eco-Congregation plans and achievement. We heartily recommend reading the report if you are looking for inspiration or curious to find out how other congregations carry out their Eco-Congregation journey.
Rev. Ewan Aitken also gave an inspirational sermon prior to the gathering and abseiled off the Forth bridge for charity later the same day.
You can read the full report by clicking on the link: Report on Mini Gathering 2012
We wish to thank everyone who made this gathering such a success. Especially the wonderful speakers from Cults Parish Church, Skene Parish Church and Queen’s Cross Parish Church.
Zero Waste Scotland run volunteer programmes across Scotland to encourage people to reduce, reuse and recycle. Would you like them to come and give your network or congregation a talk?
Local Zero Waste Scotland volunteer co-ordinators would be happy to give talks about the Zero Waste Scotland programmes such as Love Food Hate Waste, Real Nappies and Stop Unwanted Mail.
Please have a look at their What Can I Do Today? leaflet for more information and email them on volunteers@zerowastescotland.org.uk to help find your local volunteer co-ordinator.
We would like to invite you to the following events on the 21st and 23rd of October (please click on the events table to make it bigger):
Please note that if you would like to go from the Church Service to the Mini-Gathering on Sunday the 21st October, tea and coffee will be available at Ferryhill but please bring your own lunch! It is a 15-20 minute walk between Ferryhill and Crown Terrace. Alternatively, the 17 bus takes 3 mins (4 stops) to go from outside the church down Crown Street to Crown Terrace. They are every 20 mins. There is limited parking at Crown Terrace but free parking available elsewhere in the area, and it is convenient for train and bus stations.
More information will follow closer to the time. Please contact us if you have any questions!
We hope you can make it!
