Conservation Foundation

The Conservation Foundation, a secular environmental organization in the United Kingdom (UK), began working with the Church of England in 1998, when it created the Yews for the Millennium project. The Foundation has been campaigning since 1987 to protect ancient yew trees, many of which are found in Britain’s churchyards. Since some of these trees are estimated to be more than 2,000 years old, and therefore living at the time of Christ, the Foundation decided to propagate some of them and offer the cuttings to parishes. As a result, more than 12,000 Millennium Yews were distributed at special services throughout England and Wales in 1999 and 2000. Most of these trees have since been planted in churchyards. While a major percentage of requests for trees were from Church of England parishes, trees were also requested by Roman Catholics, Quakers, and Buddhists. Assuming that many of the people requesting a Millennium Yew had some interest in the environment, the Foundation invited them to serve as links with the Conservation Foundation by becoming “Parish Pumps.” The name, “Parish Pump,” was chosen because of its historical associations around the world as a gathering place where information is exchanged within a community. The Foundation’s Parish Pumps receive environmental news and information about initiatives, award and grant schemes, and publications to pass on to their congregations and local communities. As a result of this program, the Foundation now has a national network of Parish Pumps in both rural and urban parishes. With financial help from other trusts and foundations, the Conservation Foundation also provides Parish Pump Priming Awards. Although involving relatively small amounts of money, these awards are intended to turn ideas for local environmental projects into action by providing some initial funding. The awards are often presented by Bishops or clergy to highlight the Church’s increasing level of environmental awareness and concern.

In association with the Church of England, the Conservation Foundation has recently launched a national program of workshops that are organized in collaboration with the local diocese and hosted by a local Bishop, often in a cathedral or church. The workshops urge churches to integrate greater environmental awareness into their worship services and are attended by people from various religious traditions. The workshops include various presentations by local and national experts. Each Workshop has its own agenda linking it to the 2002 Anglican Communion’s Caring for Creation Congress, which the Foundation also helped organize. The Caring for Creation Congress is part of the Anglican Communion’s World Summit on Sustainable Development program.

In another church-related initiative, the Foundation is helping to regenerate an eleven-acre site beside Liverpool’s Anglican cathedral. Previously a cemetery, the site had fallen into disrepair and was avoided by local people and tourists alike. As a result of meetings held in the Cathedral, local people have gathered to form The Friends of St. James’ Garden. Along with the local council, they are working to restore the site in time for the Cathedral’s centenary in 2004.