One of the beauties of the last few months has been the opportunity to experience God's World in relative peace and quiet because of the reduction in noise pollution. I sat watching and listening to Goldfinches in our garden several days on the run a few weeks ago at the height of the 'lockdown'. Until this year they have been sadly missing! We have recently got back from a week away with our caravan. One of the joys of the break was that I could sit and watch red kites soaring overhead and listen to their calls. I happened to decide to have my quiet time outside which was a revelation. Feeling and smelling God's creation while reading his word and praying was a very different feeling for me and one worth revisiting whenever I get the chance. I would certainly recommend it

Eco tips for May

Now is a good time to be thinking about growing summer flowers and vegetables so this month we're looking at ways we can be more “green” in our patch, whether we've got a garden, balcony, allotment, window box, hanging basket, or pots and tubs. Create a larder for bees. Choose flowers that bees can get into easily and provide them with a banquet of food. Some useful information is online here: http://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/plant-inspiration/plants-for-bees/ Plan for slugs. When it comes to sowing and planting, assume you'll have some casualties and plant more than you need. When planting out seedlings, make a circle of crushed eggshells around each one – slugs don't like crawling on a rough ground. Eco Tips through the year are from St Mary’s Church, Cubbington, a Silver Award Eco Church (May 2019) Please feel free to use these Eco Tips in your weekly parish news sheet or in your parish magazine Protect your seedlings from frost, slugs and mice. Make mini greenhouses from clear plastic bottles: remove the screw top, cut off the base and push the sawn-off bottle over the seedling and into the soil. Don't be too tidy. Leave a patch of leaves and twigs where bugs and beetles can feel at home: they could be your friends by feasting on the less welcome insects that eat your plants. For further ideas the following websites may be of help. When considering things you may be thinking purchasing: The Plastic Free Shop; Zero Store (various locations); GAIA; Milk and More are worth a look online. If you find any other good and reliable sites please let us know. We are constantly looking to add more to add more and more to the list.