All Saints' Church Hertford

Environment, Climate and Hope

Welcome!

Thank you for your interest. Our next (third) ECH 'Day' will be Saturday 21st September 2024. We are currently finalising the programme and expect to publish fuller details by end of May or early June.

In the meantime, to give 'flavour', here are details of the 2022 event.

Saturday, September 24th at All Saints Church in Hertford is a day dedicated to Environment, Climate and Hope.

The programme runs from 10:00 to 16:00 and visitors can stay for the day or drop in from time to time as best suits them.

What's it about?

Through illustrated talks, presentations, stalls and displays, the wonderful wildlife areas in easy reach of Hertford will be celebrated.

Alongside this, the day will promote an awareness of just how much our wildlife means to our wellbeing, and will also consider other aids to wellbeing.

There will also be suggestions of how to live more sustainably and to protect the environment, taking into account the ravages of climate change, but finding ways to point to hope for the future. Through a panel discussion of climate change, the wider issues will also be considered.

What's is happening

Talks and stalls and displays in the church and stalls in the churchyard.

Refreshments will be served all day, including lunch, and there will be activities for children and families as well as cakes and plants for sale.

Emma Parlow and Rachel Sharpe of Hertford Library will be telling stories for children at 10:00, 11:15, 12:45 and 15:40.

Nigel Braggins will deliver his spoken word poetry at 13.00.

Directions/Parking

Full directions are on our location webpage. The Gascoyne Way multi-storey Car Park SG14 1YY has 340 spaces directly adjacent to the church.

Talks

These will take place in church.

10.30	Andrew Wood Author of Butterflies of Hertfordshire and Middlesex
	The Necessity of Insects Andrew Wood is the Hertfordshire butterfly recorder and also the records collator for the Herts and Middlesex branch of Butterfly Conservation. His work resulted in the publication by HNHS in November 2016 of his book, Butterflies of Hertfordshire and Middlesex. The book was the first comprehensive guide to butterflies in the two counties for almost 30 years. He also edits an annual booklet that provides an update to the book on the current status of butterflies in these counties. He is also an active moth recorder and maintains the Herts & Middx Moth Group's website and is the voluntary warden at the Waterford Heath south Nature Reserve.
11.45	Dr. Sam Cornish Coordinator of the Oxford University Polar Forum and consultant to the WWF
	Investment for a Net- Zero World Sam is an oceanographer/climate scientist by background. He recently graduated from his DPhil at the University of Oxford, working on Arctic climate and ocean processes. He now coordinates the Oxford University Polar Forum, including organising the Arctic Horizon Scan 2022 project, and producing their podcast, Polar Pod. He is a scientific consultant for the WWF Arctic Programme, contributing climate model and physical oceanography expertise as part of an interdisciplinary process to chart plausible futures for ecosystems in the Arctic Ocean. He recently started part-time work as a Climate Transition Plan Analyst for IIGCC, as he looks to apply his professional energy and environmental expertise to climate action. Sam will transition to full-time in this role in October 2022. His talk will feature: - the importance of net-zero carbon emissions, and what this means from a physical climate perspective - the role that investors can play in accelerating the transition to net zero - how this is done: success stories and challenge Sam will also reflect on his experiences as an Arctic researcher and his decision to leave academia
13.30	Tim Hill, MCIEEM Conservation Manager, Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust and Event Manager of the Herts Bird Club
	Hertfordshire's Rivers and Wetland: Past, Present and Future Wetland habitats take many forms, from upland peat bogs to valley mires, floodplain meadows and vast reedbeds. Whether fed by rain or groundwater, these wet habitats all need a water supply to create the conditions that keep their soils, vegetation and resident species happy and healthy. In the UK we have lost a startling 90% of our former wetlands, often by draining them to make way for agriculture, development, forestry and other land uses. The Wildlife Trusts are working to protect and restore our damaged wetlands as part of our vision to see 30% of our land and seas managed for nature’s recovery by 2030. Tim Hill is the Conservation Manager with Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust, leading on the Trust’s work in the wider countryside for wildlife and people. He has been working as conservation professional for over 30 years, beginning his career as a ranger in the Peak District National Park. In a voluntary capacity he is a Trustee of the Hertfordshire Natural History Society. Tim has a particular fondness of wet and muddy places and the creatures that live there.
14.30	Panel Discussion chaired by Ian Davis.
	The impact of Climate Change Ian Davis breeds suckler cattle on his small Hertfordshire farm. He studied at Harper Adams in the 1980’s then returned to the family farm. He joined the National Rivers Authority in 1991 when BSE hit the income of the farm. He managed river maintenance and flood incident response across North London, Herts and Essex. He was transferred into the Environment Agency where he contributed to several national R&D projects and was the flood risk lead for the 2012 London Olympic park. The panel will comprise all our speakers plus John Cherry of Weston Park Farms. John organises the annual Groundswell Conference looking at the theory and practical applications of Conservation Agriculture or regenerative systems, including no-till, cover crops and re-introducing livestock into the arable rotation, with a view to improving soil health.

Stalls and Displays in Church

Stalls and displays will explore many aspects of environment, climate and hope.

Stalls

Creating a Creating an environment where butterflies , moths and other insects can thrive.

I am from Butterfly Conservation and my aim is to promote a wide diversity based on the place of butterflies and moths as vital links in food chain and early indicators of climate and environmental change.
 

The New River Line, Community Rail Partnership.

Excited to have free Activity Guides to hand out, ideal to use to explore the area from Hertford East to Broxbourne station, full of things to see and do and suggested circular walks around each station.
 

The Eco Hub - Think & Do Space for Climate and Eco action.

Information hub and resources to help you and your church take action on the climate and biodiversity crisis, including practical steps and inspiration on how to reach Net Zero Carbon by 2030.
 

HACC - Hertford Action on Climate Change.

The aim of HACC is to offer food for thought and options for practical steps towards a thriving and sustainable future.
 

Create the Future - an imagination adventure for everyone.

Come with us on a time travelling adventure to a better future and get creative as you design a postcard to send back home. What kind of future will you create? Suitable for all ages, young and old!
 

Hertford Swift Group

The Hertford Swift Group aims to help the number of Swifts In Hertford recover after the sharp decline in recent years (c58% since the mid 1990s). Our main focus is on increasing numbers of breeding sites for the birds across the town, with nest boxes, and Swift bricks on new developments.

We have put over 300 nest boxes in 2022. This work will continue for a number of years. Come and chat to us about what this involves and what you could do to help Hertford’s Swifts.
 

Walking and Cycling

Where you can go and how to get around without using a car, with particular emphasis on the public rights-of-way network and cycle routes.
 

Sele Road Community Garden - "Lovely Grub Garden" Hertford

On a small plot just south of the footbridge over the railway, we aim to produce as much food as possible from raised beds, one poly tunnel, soft fruit and fruit trees. We have neither mains water nor electricity, but aim to be self-sufficient in rainwater. We also experiment with composting techniques (including a wormery and hot composter), and current projects are to install a compost toilet and a small pond. The garden provides an open-air forum for volunteers to discuss gardening techniques and infrastructure, dishes and preserves made from the produce, and anything else. Broadly, our principles are the same as those followed in permaculture.
 

Keeping chickens Frances has kept chickens for many years and shares her exprience and best practice.
 

Displays

• The World’s Forests
• Insects
• Climate Change
• Seeds of Hope
• Living Planet Report - Save Our Oceans
• The Roots of Climate Change Denial
• The State of our Rivers
• Thwaites Glacier
• Meadows
• Light Pollution’s Far Reaching Effects
• Climate Adaptation
• The Protection of Creation
• Think Globally Act Locally
• Allergens
• Climate Change in Daily Life
• News Board

In the Churchyard

Stalls (inside if wet)

Ware Reuse Shop & What Happens To Your Waste

Information about the Reuse Shop at Ware Recycling Centre plus details about Hertfordshire’s waste and WasteAware’s Reusable Nappies and Reusable Period Products campaigns.
 

Hedge Laying Demo and Activity
  Rye Meads

A delightful wetland reserve beside the River Lee and a firm favourite with walkers, birdwatchers and photographers thanks to its many trails and hides. A great place to spot the blue flash of a kingfisher as well as common terns that nest on specially-created rafts during the summer. During the winter months look out for snipe, green sandpipers, shovelers, gadwalls and tufted ducks. Family activities, such as pond dipping, minibeasting and trails are available during the school holidays.
 

Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust- Panshanger Park and King’s Meads.

Come along to find out more about your local wildlife and how you can help through family friendly activities.
 

RSPB South East Hertfordshire.

Provide an opportunity for the public to learn about the RSPB and the local group and the wildlife available to watch in the local area.
 

Biochar explained

An introduction to biochar with an opportunity to explore the methods of using and the advantages to be gained through its use.

Refreshments

Refreshments Served All Day.

Delicious Lunches between 12.00 noon and 2.00 pm.

Cakes & Produce for Sale

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