Eco Church
St Saviour’s is committed to becoming a sustainable organisation that respects and values nature and the environment, and takes seriously our shared responsibility to care for the life that we share our planet with.
Chris Packham presents a new film outlining the urgency of our climate crisis. Produced for the National Emergency Briefing held in London last November, this informative and challenging film is being shown across the UK and beyond as communities come together to discuss climate resilience in the face of escalating impacts - like the recent extreme heat.​​ Doors and licensed bar from 7.30pm​​​
VER VALLEY WALK: Saturday 26 September, 2pm
​
Led by volunteers from The Ver Valley Society, the linear route from St Mary's Church, Redbourn is approximately 5.5 miles with a shorter circular option for any who would prefer to retrace their steps from the Watermill back to the Church. Children and young people welcome if accompanied by an adult, but please note the route is not pushchair friendly!​ Dogs on leads also welcome!​​​​
​
So what's the plan?
​
1.45pm: Gather at St Mary’s Church, Redbourn (no need to book, just rock up!)
2.00pm: Walk to Redbournbury Watermill
2.45pm: Refreshments and Info stop with VVS Volunteers
3.15pm: Walk on to Ye Olde Fighting Cocks
4.30pm: Arrive at YOFC
​​​​​​​​​
A Rocha International is a Christian charity ‘working to protect and restore the natural world and equipping Christians and churches n the UK to care for the environment’. We are pleased to have received their BRONZE ECO AWARD, and in 2026 we are working hard to reach SILVER!​ Click on the link for some simple tips on actions you can take to help nature: Easy Eco Tips 2026 Calendar
Sustainable St Albans are a local organisation helping the residents of St Albans and the surrounding district to get involved in actions that can help us all be more environmentally friendly. Check out their site at: Sustainable St Albans
We are actively engaged with the Church of England's Environment Programme.
​
You can explore more information clicking on the image on the left, and find St Saviour's and other local churches on the Eco Church Map and read about how caring for the environment is one of the Five Marks of Mission:
​
"To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation, and sustain and renew the life of the earth"
​
​
Here are just some of the projects we have completed so far:
Big Butterfly Count '26
Members of the congregation and various church- based groups took part in the world’s largest butterfly survey, the Big Butterfly Count, and logged their sightingscount the butterflies and day-flying moths they see, and submit their sightings at www.bigbutterflycount.org. 80% of UK butterfly species have declined over the past 50 years, the result of habitat loss, pollution and climate change, and scientists needed as many eyes as possible to look out for butterflies this summer to see what’s happening.
​
Swift Boxes​
We have installed three swift boxes on the north face of the church to provide homes for this endangered species. A PA system plays swift calls at dawn and dusk from May through to the end of July to let the birds know boxes’ location.​ Did you know….
-
Swifts are summer visitors, breeding across the UK, but are most numerous in the south and east
-
Swifts pair for life and migrate 3,400 miles twice a year from Africa, stopping off to refuel along the way, returning to the same nest site each year
-
They like to live in houses and churches where they nest inside roofs
-
As more old buildings are renovated and gaps in soffits closed up, swift nest sites are fast disappearing
You can find out more about swifts and how to help at Swift Bird Facts | Apus Apus (rspb.org.uk)
St Saviour’s Buzz Stop​
In March 2020 St Saviour’s teamed up with local eco action group Wilderhood Watch to re-wild the land around the Garden of Remembrance and along the banks to create a pollinator friendly Buzz Stop. Since it was first planted it has flourished year on year, attracting a variety of pollinator species to the church grounds. You can find out more about this project and Wilderhood Watch here: St Saviour’s Church Buzz Stop – Wilderhood Watch
Lent 2026 Carbon Fast​
This Lent St Saviour’s took part in A Rocha International’s Carbon Fast. Using ideas and resources provided by the Climate Stewards’ Charity Climate Stewards, the church’s eco-team shared weekly themed tips with members of the congregation, who took up the call to action in a variety of ways from recycling, through reducing food miles to donations to our Lent Charity The Ver Valley Society. VVS were also the chosen charity at the 2026 Beer & Fizz Festival.
