St James The Great

​Old Milverton, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire

​Geoff's Eco Tips

Eco-Tip & Biodiversity Project Update – Summer 2026

Hi everyone,

As I write, just back from Muddy Church and Bioblitz, the summer is firmly with us. It was a wonderful sunny Sunday afternoon in the churchyard exploring the plants, flowers, bugs and butterflies that live here and recording them with the help of the Diocesan Biodiversity Team. The new churchyard was an amazing sight to behold with groups of adults and children scattered amongst the wildflowers really enjoying themselves. One young parent described it as ‘thoroughly wholesome’, which I think sums it up just perfectly….

Below are the Eco-tips for the summer months provided by A Rocha UK’s Easy Eco Tips 2026 Calendar, which follow the themes of ‘Plastic Free July’ (which is becoming an annual tradition) and ‘looking after wildlife in the summer heat of August’.

Easy Eco Tips 2026 Calendar - A Rocha UK

JULY ECO-TIP

It’s Plastic Free July and this year we’re thinking about laundry, a top source of microplastic pollution. Fibres from synthetic clothes (polyester, nylon, and acrylic for example) shed tiny fibres during washing and drying. These enter the sewage systems and are hard to filter out. Use a microfibre bag or ball to catch the fibres. Learn more about reducing plastic pollution in the laundry process at Plastic free laundry | Ideas to reduce plastic with laundry and more about this year’s campaign at whale shark and remoras - Search

AUGUST ECO-TIP: Looking after wildlife in the heat.

Times of drought and dryness can be dangerous for wildlife. Provide water for birds and insects - put a dish of water out to help wildlife stay hydrated. Insects, small mammals, birds, and even badgers, foxes, and deer could benefit. A stone in a plant saucer helps bees to perch and drink without drowning. These small actions make a big difference and are just some of the ways we can live out our calling to care for God’s creation. See our blog on looking after wildlife in the heat for more warm weather eco tips: Looking after wildlife and plant life in the heat - A Rocha UK

For more practical ways to enjoy, nurture and defend nature, sign up to A Rocha UK’s Wild Christian email:arocha.org.uk/wild-christian

Churchyard Biodiversity & Heritage Project - ST JAMES UPDATE SUMMER 2026.

Apart from Muddy Church/Bioblitz mentioned above, the biodiversity team have also undertaken a plant/habitat survey across the churchyard to establish our baseline of flora. Also a summer butterfly survey has started. If anyone would like to be involved in this over the summer months, please do contact me. Otherwise, you can pick up some information at the Dog Walkers Coffee Morning on the last Saturday morning of each month and look around for butterflies either then or at other times to suit you.

At some time during August we are expecting the overall report from the Biodiversity and Heritage Team. This will include the results of all the wildlife surveys. We understand that it will also provide some suggestions on how we can better look after the wildlife we have and also how we might provide habitats to attract more species into our churchyard to enhance its beauty and appeal even further.

With love Geoff

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