What’s On

The Family service will be on the third Sunday this month instead of the fourth. So we meet on Sunday 19 November, in Nun’s Cross Church at 5pm. This short service is aimed at families with young children, and snacks are served afterwards!

October 2023

Pliny the Elder – green views

Pliny the Elder died in Pompeii in AD 79 following the eruption of Vesuvius. He wrote the largest work to have survived from the times of the Roman Empire to the present – “The Natural History” (Naturalis Historia), which covered all spheres of the natural world. What is of relevance today from his writings is that, even back then, he realised that humans were having an impact on, and even poisoning, their environment. Needless to say, that effect has multiplied enormously since then. We all need to learn how to reduce our impact on planet earth. Maybe a good place to start is by appreciating what the natural environment has to offer us and from that may spring the desire to preserve it – for example, at present, the hedgerows are full of bounteous red berries as, following a spectacular spring display of flowers, the hawthorn trees are aglow with fruits. It is truly a wondrous sight, autumn at its best but, more importantly, provides many creatures with a valuable food source. Hawthorn trees are an integral part of native woodland planting, so we may expect to see more in the future as new forestry planting proceeds. Forestry aside, even smaller gardens could find space for native species such as hawthorn, spindle, guelder rose etc. A pleasant autumn activity could be to plant some of our wide variety of native shrubs or trees. 

August 2023

“The era of global boiling has arrived”

Imagine you are standing at the bottom of a hill, watching a huge juggernaut slowing winding its way down from the top. Then it speeds up, sending rocks flying downhill as it takes the corners too fast. If brakes were applied now, the lorry would slow down, the damage would be limited. Left to accelerate ever faster, it would veer totally out of control, possibly tipping sideways and obliterating all in its path. Likewise with climate, if we “apply brakes” by limiting greenhouse gas emissions, then we can reduce the rate of earth’s temperature rise. The first three weeks of July have been the hottest on record. UN Secretary General Antonio Guteres said “The era of global boiling has arrived. Climate change is here. It is terrifying. And it is just the beginning. It is still possible to limit global temperature rise to 1.5⁰C (above pre-industrial levels) and avoid the very worst of climate change. But only with dramatic, immediate climate action.” In Ireland, we must learn to adapt and part of that adaptation must be to see climate action by us all as a right for future generations – this will, of necessity, involve giving up some of our current “rights” – over-consumption, waste, too much travel, overheating of buildings etc. Most people do not want to hear it: “Ireland is a small country, so it doesn’t matter what we do, it won’t make a difference.” Wrong. Millions of small changes can have a large impact, both directly and by influence (remember banning indoor smoking, levying plastic bags? – other countries followed suit). If we embrace climate action NOW, we can help safeguard the future.

Please find the findings of the Killiskey Parish Survey below:

Parish Survey – Analysis

Please find the details of the March Family Service below:

The council in Eindhoven, Netherlands has taken the decision to stop raking leaves and using leaf blowers in their parks on grass and in flower beds, though paths will continue to be cleared. Since Victorian times, Europeans have become used to ‘over tidiness’ and biodiversity has taken a huge knock as a result. Leaves that do need to be tidied up can be left in a pile, suitable for overwintering hedgehogs etc. Additionally, other smaller wildlife, in the form of a myriad of often microscopic decomposers, flourishes. Meanwhile, leaves that remain on flowerbeds and lawns nourish the earth beneath; leaves act as a natural weed suppressant, retain moisture in times of drought and provide mulch for free. This reduces people’s perceived need for using herbicides. Related to eliminating herbicides, a local forestry consultant has noted that native woodlands on land that has not been sprayed with herbicide to clear vegetation prior to planting and then during the first five years of the new forest, thrive better. Trees show increased vigour and health and they grow more quickly. These are good lessons for us all.

This year’s Remembrance Sunday service is on 13th November. There will be an Act of Remembrance and an opportunity to support the Poppy Appeal.