Notes from Edinburgh Network meeting on 7th November 2012

Chair (Angela) welcomed all present and led prayer.

Networking
1. Discussion of a draft plan for energy efficiency for Christ Church, Morningside, included following contributions: Historic Scotland (no constraints on insulating inside of windows). Church of Scotland provides helpful information. Applications to Climate Challenge Fund close on 20/12 (will fund carbon saving measures). Dalbeattie Parish Church has introduced de-stratification fans (to circulate warm air). Jean proposed commissioning a masters student to review and analyse church improvements. Change Works provide a guide for improvements – Margaret will email to all about this.
Other websites Earth be Glad, Creation Tide resources – for a range of resources produced by different Christian environmental organisations.

2. Parish activities: Angela mentioned and local church photography competition.
Photos can be exhibited inside church and encourage visits. Susan mentioned a celebration show around theme of honey.
Questions about how to celebrate harvest festival and how to enhance church grounds –
Ideas include: holding a farmers’ market on forecourt; contacting Shandon Food Group, Trellis Therapeutic Gardening – Edible estates – Timebank. Jean suggested contacting Pat Able, Royal Edinburgh Community Gardens. Christmas cards – it was thought Woodland Trust charity has stopped recycling Xmas cards (recycled card no longer profitable) but please see note with these minutes for further information – Added to notes 4th Dec 2012: Marks & Spencers collect and recycle Christmas Cards for the Woodland Trust.

Carbon Conversations
Introduced by Arthur – to engage people in groups of 8-12 with 2 facilitators over a
6 week period to look at ways of reducing carbon footprint. See Carbon Conversations. Benefits of using this in church explained by Jean and Margaret. Political involvement and SCIAF campaigns discussed, incl. lobbying Parliament.

News from Eco-Congregation
Margaret reported on the network seminar in September, when the registration process was streamlined.
Mentoring scheme for congregations new to Eco-Congregation (or those seeking help with developing their action plan) introduced. Resource material arranged into 3 Ideas for Action. Margaret urged parishes to apply for awards – assessors like to meet workers. Suggested working through Check Up and presenting an action plan to kirk session, or AGM, etc. as a way of getting a green team together to work towards an award. Potential for energy savings in congregation’s homes much greater than in the church building.

Date of Next Meeting: Wed 18 Feb 2013, 7.30pm at Saughtonhall United Reformed Church, 85/87 Saughtonhall Drive, Edinburgh EH12 5TR when Saughtonhall United Reformed Church will be talking about their project to install photovoltaic panels on the church roof and the CO2 and money this has saved.

The next Edinburgh network meeting will be 18 Feb 2013 at St Andrew’s and St Georges’s West

Date and time: Monday 18th February 2013, 7.30pm

Location: St Andrew’s and St Georges’s West, George Street.

You can access St Andrew’s and St Georges’s West website here.

RSPB offer to give talks to groups in Edinburgh

We have received the following email from the RSPB and are passing it on:

I am contacting you on behalf of RSBP Scotland. We are one of the UK’s leading conservation organisations and our work ranges from practical conservation work on our 200 plus UK nature reserves through to policy, advisory and campaign work at a local, national and international level and engagement with the public to educate and inspire about our amazing wildlife. 

For the past two years RSPB Scotland has run Sparrowhawks in the City Date with Nature, a project at the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh which aims to showcase to members of the public breeding sparrowhawks which nest in the gardens. Using innovative live cameras we are able to show a unique insight into sparrowhawk behaviour as we watch our birds incubating, brooding, feeding and finally see our chicks fledge. Each year RSPB Scotland has worked in partnership with the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh, the Scottish Seabird Centre and the Lothian and Boarders Rapture Study Group to staff an information area in the John Hope Gateway in the Botanics and to hold family and evening events throughout the spring and summer season.

As part of our Community Outreach Programme we are offering community talks to local interested groups. These talks will be given by a number of our experienced Community Talks Volunteers, many of whom have also volunteered for Sparrowhawks in the City. The talks aim to give an introduction to a raptor which is present in many urban green spaces, to dispel any myths about sparrowhawks and to talk about the findings and drama of the project so far, as well as highlighting the importance of Edinburgh’s green spaces for urban wildlife.

We aim to begin our talks programme in March of 2013 ahead of the start of the Sparrowhawk date with Nature Project in mid May. We aim to be as flexible as possible with our talks and are offering presentations ranging from 20 minutes to an hour including time for questions, depending on what groups would prefer. 

If you are interested in having a speaker at your group/event or wish for any more information on the community talks please do not hesitate to contact myself. In order to cover our materials and volunteer expenses we are asking for a small donation of £1 per person for this activity.

For further information please contact:

Abby Forrest
Sparrowhawk Community Outreach Co-ordinator
RSPB Scotland
Ground Floor
2 Lochside View
Edinburgh Park,
Edinburgh
EH12 9DH.
Tel: 0131 317 4100
Email: Abby.Forrest@rspb.org.uk

Next Edinburgh network meeting is 7th November at Sacred Heart RC Church, Lauriston

The next meeting of the Edinburgh network will be on Wednesday 7th November, 7.30pm to 9pm at Sacred Heart RC Church, Lauriston.

The evening’s agenda is available by clicking on the link: Edinburgh network agenda

Everyone is welcome – you don’t have to be from a registered church. We look forward to seeing you there!